MIlM^^^^i^k 




A HISTORY 
OF BASE HOSPITAL 3 2 




J. K. LILLY 

Founder 



A History of 

BASE HOSPITAL 32 

[including unit r} 



EDITED AND COMPILED BY 



BENJAMIN D. HITZ 



WITH 

photographic illustrations by 
Charles S. Stough 

AND others 



INDIANAPOLIS 
1922 



JIC' 



2.^ 



Copyright 1922 

Edward Kahle Post No. 42 

American Legion 

Indianapolis 



M 26^22 

^CI./iB77274 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGES 

I. Under THE Red Cross 1-9 

The origin of Base Hospital 32. Mr. Lilly oflFers to equip a Base 
Hospital. Early organization. Equipment plans. Changes in 
personnel. Dr. Clark's staff. Selection of nursing and enlisted 
personnel. Organization supervised by the Red Cross. The In- 
dianapolis Red Cross Shop furnishes the linen and surgical dress- 
ings. Assignment of regular army officers. Orders to mobilize. 

II. FoRT Harrison 10-24 

Mobilization. Military training. Appointment of non-commis- 
sioned officers. Transfers and withdrawals. List of personnel. 
Rumors of sailing orders. Departure for port of embarkation. 
Nurses in training. List of nursing personnel. Three weeks at 
Hoboken. Transfer to Ellis Island. Civilian employes join the 
nurses. Final preparations for overseas service. Sailing orders. 

III. The Voyage 25-43 

The George Washington. The first day on board. Precautions 
against submarines. A touch of rough weather. Sunday at sea. 
A convoy of destroyers arrives. The storm in the Bay of Biscay. 
The submarine scare. The harbor of Brest. The unit debarks. 
Seeing the town. Across France in a snowstorm. Christmas 
day on the train. Arrival at Contrexeville. 

IV. Contrexeville 44-57 

Celebrated watering place. Hotels, buildings and parks. Ad- 
vantages as a hospital site. Assignment of hospital buildings. 
General organization plans developed. Surgical and medical sec- 
tion buildings assigned. Arrival and unloading of equipment. 
Fitting the buildings for hospitals. Changes in personnel. Ten- 
tative staff. The country about Contrexeville. Major Beery's 
illness. The Y. M. C. A. and the Red Cross. Base Hospital 32 
ready for service. 

V. Hospital Unit R 58-69 

Arrival at Contrexeville. Origin and early organization of Unit 
R. Assistance of neighboring Red Cross chapters. Equipment. 
Mobilization at Fort McPherson. Military training. Changes in 
personnel. Camp Merrit. Embarkation. The convoy assembles 
at Halifax. The voyage on the Carmania. Liverpool and South- 
ampton. The rest camp. Crossing the channel. The train from 
LeHavre. The air raid. List of Unit R personnel. 

VI. Spring, 1918 70-84 

Major Van Kirk assumes command. Changes in staff. Promo- 
tions and appointments in enlisted personnel. The first hospital 
train arrives. The laboratory. The Quartermaster commissary. 
Changes in personnel. The bathhouse opens. How convoys were 
handled. The Casino Theater. The base Hospital 32 baseball 
team. The first influenza epidemic. Memorial Day ceremonies. 



vi Contents 

CHAPTER /^^^« 

VII. Summer, 1918 • 85-93 

Several convoys arrive. An air raid that never materialized. 
The minstrel show. Fourth of July celebration. Changes m per- 
sonnel. Formation of the Vittel-Contrexeville Hospital Center. 
Busy days. Leaves of absence. Athletic activities. Promotions 
in the enlisted personnel. 

VIII. Fall, 1918 94-102 

Anniversary celebration at the Providence. A review of the first 
year's work. Expansion of bed capacity. Additional personnel. 
"Admissions during September and October. Losses and trans- 
fers. Death of Edward C. Kahle. Promotions. The Nurses' 
Club. The Red Cross Hut. Another musical entertainment. 
Decoration of Lexie Downham. Colonel Rukke's order of com- 
mendation. 

IX. The Surgical and Medical Sections . 103-130 

Surgical: The staff. Mortality rate of patients. Statistics of 
rank and nationality. Ages of patients. Classification of cases. 
Medical: Importance of medical work. The staflF. Patients 
statistics : nationalities ; classification of cases ; mortalities ; rank ; 
ages. How contagious cases were handled. 

X. Departments 131-H3 

Nose, Throat and Ear: Personnel. Early work. First convoy 
of gas cases. Major Page develops a new method of treatment. 
X-Ray: Equipment and personnel. Installation. An outhne of 
the work. Anesthesia: Directed by Captain Guedel. Induction 
method, Asculatory vapor aspiration method. 

XI. Departments (Continued) 144-158 

Laboratories: Organization of Central Laboratory. Staflf and 
personnel. Serology work. Autopsies. Bacteriology. Clinical 
pathology. Orthopedic Service : Organization of department by 
Captain Mumford. Personnel. Volume of work. Neuro-Psy- 
chiatry: Psycho-neuroses. Brain and spinal cord injuries. Per- 
ipheral nerve lesions and psychoses. 

XII. TheA.R.C 159-176 

Mr. Thompson succeeds Mr. Hitchcock. Personnel. General 
nature of work. Bathhouse. Sorting and Receiving Station. Red 
Cross Hut. Convalescents' farm. Theater. Barber shop. Nurses' 
Garden. Officers' Club, Searching and home communication 
service. Christmas packages. Tobacco and cigarettes. News- 
papers and magazines. Writing paper. Christmas celebration. 
Office work. Miscellaneous, Emergency service, 

XIII. Packing Up 177-186 

The armistice celebration. Automobile trips to the front. Thanks- 
giving and Christmas days. Dismantling the hospital buildings. 
Basketball team. Transfer to the United States. The hospital 
is officially closed. Complete statistics of patients during the hos- 
pitals service in France. 



Contents vii 



XIV. Homeward Bound 187-205 

The unit entrains for Nantes. The trip to the embarkation area. 
Saint Sebastian. The nurses sail for home. Preparations for in- 
spections. Officers receive embarkation orders. Unit departs for 
St. Nazaire. Final inspections. The U. S. S. Freedom. A slow 
voyage. Arrival at New York. Camp Mills and Camp Merritt. 
The Indianapolis home-coming celebration. Discharge at Camp 
Taylor. 

XV. The Auxiliary Association .... 206-210 

Origin of the Association. The organization committee. Officers 
elected and committees appointed. The Association's work. List 
of members. 

Appendix 211-229 

Index 231-237 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACING 
PAGE 

J. K. Lilly, Founder (Frontispiece) Title 

Lieutenant Colonel Edmund D. Clark 4 

Training at Fort Harrison 7 

"32's" Camp at Fort Harrison 7 

Nurses of Base Hospital 32 10 

Base Hospital 32 Officers at Fort Harrison 10 

An Early Morning Wash, Fort Harrison 13 

Rabbit Chase, Fort Harrison 13 

Gare De L'Est, Contrexeville 16 

Rue Du Pont Rouge 16 

Contrexeville, Looking Toward Vittel 21 

The Mill 21 

The Colonnade 28 

Church Used by Base Hospital 32 33 

Facade, Hospital A 33 

The Road to Suriauville 36 

The Church 36 

Establissement Hydoromineral 45 

Map of Contrexeville 48 

Entrance to the Glass House 52 

Interior, the Glass House 52 

Officers' Quarters, Rue Salabery 55 

The Park from the North Entrance 55 

The Villa St. George 58 

Waiting for the Vittel Bus 58 

The Garage Gang and Their Menagerie 61 

The Old Theatre 61 

Rue Salabery, Looking North 64 

Waiting for the Mess Call 64 

Group at the Glass House 69 

Off Detail 69 

French Hospital Train 76 

Unloading Patients at the Bath House 76 

Large Surgical Ward, Hospital A 81 

Bastille Day Ceremonies 84 

Memorial Day Ceremonies 84 

ix 



X List of Illustrations 

FACING 
PAGE 

Ball Game, July 4, 1918 93 

The Mill 93 

Hospital A, Cosmopolitain Palace Hotel 100 

Personnel, Hospital A 100 

Main Surgery, Hospital A 103 

Dressing Room, Hospital A 103 

Pharmacy, Hospital A 106 

Medical Supply Room, Hospital A 106 

Orthopedic Cases, Hospital A 109 

A French General on an Inspection Tour 109 

Personnel, Hospital E 112 

Hospital E, Hotel De La Providence 112 

Personnel, Hospital B 117 

Hospital B, Hotel De Paris 117 

Personnel, Hospital D 124 

Hospital D, Royal Hotel 124 

Personnel, Hospital C 129 

Hospital C, Hotel De La Providence Annex 129 

Eye Department, Hospital A 132 

Nose, Throat and Ear Department 132 

Lieutenant Beeler with a Delegation of French Officers . . 141 

X-Ray Department, Hospital A 141 

View from the Cosmopolitain 148 

Presentation of D. S. C 151 

Parade, July 4, 1918 151 

The Bishop's Farm 154 

Railroad Bridge, River Vair 154 

Rue De L' Aisle, Looking East 157 

The Town Crier 157 

A Veteran of the Franco-Prussian War 160 

The Barber Shop 160 

The Red Cross Hut 165 

The Nurses' Garden 165 

The Casino Theatre 172 

Minstrel Show, Base Hospitals 31 and 32 172 

Detachment Inspection 177 

Part of the Enlisted Personnel 177 

The Quartermaster Commissary 180 



List of Illustrations xi 

FACING 
PAGE 

The Carpenter Shop 180 

Lallemont's 189 

Cafe De La Gare 189 

Detail Installing Tank at Garage 196 

"Baking" in the Glass House 196 

First Etage, Hospital A 199 

Kitchen, Hospital A 199 

Officers of Base Hospital 32 202 

Winter Scene, Contrexeville 205 

Bundling Fagots 205 

French Soldiers Preparing Mess 214 

Part of a French Division 214 

On Board The Freedom 219 

Loafing Between Inspections 219 



PREFACE 

This volume is published for the members of Base 
Hospital 32 and for their relatives and friends. 

While the committee charged with its preparation has 
made every effort to produce a complete and accurate his- 
tory of the hospital and its work, the chief aim has been to 
publish a book that would preserve for future recollection 
some of the details of the life and environment of the 
members of the unit during the war. 

The task has not been without its difficulties. Authori- 
tative sources of information, particularly as regards the 
early history of the hospital, have been limited. It is be- 
lieved, however, that the material selected for publication 
embraces all of the more important phases of the hos- 
pital's work and of the activities of its personnel. 

Most of the illustrations in the book have been selected 
from photographs taken in and about Contrexeville by 
Mr. Charles S. Stough, and are reproduced with his per- 
mission. Others were contributed by Mr. Edward Kurr, 
Mr. Martin L. Sutton and Mr. Vernon Sheller. 

The committee desires to express its gratitude to Mr. 
William H. Thompson, whose efforts in securing copies 
of the hospital's official records from the Surgeon- 
General's office have contributed largely to the historical 
accuracy of the book. 

Acknowledgment is also due Mr. Clarence R.Johnston, 
who furnished the history of Unit R; Miss Gertrude Stef- 
fen and Dr. A. B. Graham, for the medical and surgical 
section statistics; Mr. George Fishback for much of the 
history of the unit after the armistice, and to Drs. R. C. 
Beeler, Elmer Funkhouser, Chas. D. Humes, Lafayette 
Page, E. B. Mumford and Arthur E. Guedel for their 

xiii 



xiv Preface 

generous assistance with the histories of their respective 
departments. 

The committee is indebted to Miss Agnes Cruse, secre- 
tary of the Indianapolis Chapter of the Red Cross; Miss 
Florence Martin, Mrs. Benjamin D. Hitz, Mr. Otto 
Asperger, Dr. Robert M. Moore and many others who 
contributed important historical and statistical informa- 
tion. 

Edmund D. Clark, 
Charlotte Cathcart, 
Mary E. Bostwick, 
C. Curtis Duck, 
Benjamin D. Hitz, 

Committee. 



Under the Red Cross 

THE story of Base Hospital 32 begins early in Feb- 
ruary, 1917. At this time, with relations between 
the United States and Germany becoming daily more 
strained, a certain group of Indianapolis physicians was 
already resolving to volunteer its services in event of war. 
The idea of organizing a hospital from Indianapolis 
began to take definite form on February 19, 1917, when 
the following letter from Mr. J. K. Lilly was received by 
the president of the Indianapolis Chapter of the Amer- 
ican Red Cross: ^ 

February 19, 19 17. 

Mr. William Fortune, President, the Indianapolis Chap- 
ter, American Red Cross, City: 

Dear Sir — We are informed that a committee of physi- 
cians of this city and state are now perfecting the organi- 
zation of a volunteer staff of physicians, surgeons and 
nurses to serve under the Red Cross in event our country 
becomes involved in the European war. 

Having an earnest desire to co-operate to the fullest 
extent in the work of caring for our sick and wounded 
soldiers and sailors in the event of war, we offer the sum 
of $25,000 to the Indianapolis Chapter of the American 
Red Cross for the purpose of equipping a base hospital 
in accordance with the specifications of the American 
Red Cross. 

This gift is to be contingent only upon the actual decla- 
ration of war, and is made as a memorial to Colonel Eli 
Lilly, who, as an officer, faithfully served his country on 
the field of battle. 

If consistent with the rules of the American Red Cross, 
it is requested that this base hospital shall be known as the 
Colonel Eli Lilly Memorial Red Cross Hospital wher- 
ever it shall be located; and in making our offer it is with 

I 



2 A History of Base Hospital 32 

the hope that it will provide the staff of physicians, sur- 
geons and nurses now being organized in this city and 
state with an equipment for rendering that service for 
which they volunteer. 

Very truly yours, 

Eli Lilly & Company, 

J. K. Lilly, President. 

Mr. Lilly's generous offer was promptly accepted, and 
the Indianapolis Red Cross Chapter adopted the follow- 
ing resolution of appreciation: 

Whereas, the Eli Lilly & Company, of Indianapolis, 
having offered this chapter, through its president, the 
equipment for a Red Cross Base Hospital, at a cost of 
$25,000 in the event that the United States be drawn into 
the present European war, and on the condition that the 
required personal service for such hospital be given by 
physicians, surgeons and nurses of Indiana; therefore, 
be it 

Resolved, That this generous and patriotic offer from 
the Eli Lilly & Company is hereby accepted; and, be it 
further 

Resolved, That as an evidence of our appreciation for 
the high spirit which has prompted this gift, this hospital 
shall bear the name of Colonel Eli Lilly, whose splendid 
service as a soldier and citizen is worthy of the highest 
honor that can be accorded him in the annals of American 
patriotism; and, be it further 

Resolved, That the full text of this resolution be en- 
grossed and presented to the Eli Lilly & Company as a 
further recognition of their loyal and unselfish devotion 
to the cause of the United States and of humanity. 

Indianapolis Chapter of American Red Cross, 
By William Fortune, President; 
Guernsey Van Riper, Secretary. 

Indianapolis, February 19, 1917. 

On April 7, 1917, a state of war having been declared 
between the United States and Germany, the donation 



Under the Red Cross 3 

became available, and plans for organizing the hospital 
followed; Dr. John H. Oliver was appointed director, 
and the Indianapolis City Hospital was designated as the 
parent hospital. Associated with Dr. Oliver in this early 
work were Dr. O. G. Pfaff, Dr. David Ross, Dr. Frank 
Morrison and Dr. Charles F. Neu. Dr. Norman E. Jobes 
was appointed purchasing agent, and Mr. Louis Lathrop, 
disbursing officer. 

The work of organization was well under way, and 
many of the most important purchases of equipment had 
been arranged when it became necessary to make a num- 
ber of changes in the stafif. Dr. Oliver, Dr. Ross and Dr. 
Morrison were disqualified because of physical disability, 
and Dr. Neu, who was born in Canada and had never 
taken out naturalization papers, was obliged to withdraw 
as he was not a citizen of the United States. Succeeding 
Dr. Oliver, Dr. Edmund D. Clark was appointed director 
with the rank of major on June 14th, and it was under his 
supervision that the work of organization was completed 
and the hospital prepared for overseas duty. Following 
the withdrawal of Dr. Jobes, Benjamin D. Hitz was ap- 
pointed purchasing agent, and Mr. Lathrop was suc- 
ceeded by C. Curtis Duck as disbursing officer. 

The original plan of the Lilly Base Hospital called for 
a hospital of 500 beds, and the organization of the per- 
sonnel and the purchase of equipment followed certain 
definite lines prescribed by the surgeon general's office. 
The personnel was to include twenty-two physicians and 
surgeons, two dentists, sixty-five graduate nurses, from 
six to ten civilian employes, and one hundred and fifty- 
three enlisted men. Certain alterations of this personnel 
were subsequently necessary and were authorized, but the 
general plan was adhered to, and it was with approxi- 
mately this personnel that the unit sailed for France. The 
list of equipment for a base hospital of 500 beds published 



4 A History of Base Hospital 32 

in the United States Army Medical Manual furnished a 
guide for purchasing. Among the items of equipment 
were: 500 white enamel beds with full complement of 
mattresses, pillows and linen, 1,500 blankets, 250 bedside 
tables, five operating tables, a complete equipment of sur- 
gical instruments. X-ray and laboratory supplies, steriliz- 
ing apparatus, dental furniture and equipment, three 
regulation army ambulances, a two-ton truck, and a large 
assortmentof drugs, dressings and minor hospital supplies. 
As soon as the purchase of this equipment was well 
under way it became evident that the cost would greatly 
exceed $25,000. The manner in which this problem was 
met is described in the official history of the Indianapolis 
Chapter of the Red Cross.* 

It was soon apparent that the cost of equipping the base 
hospital would be nearer $50,000 than $25,000. In fact, 
even this revised estimate proved too low. In order to 
provide for adequate equipment, it was agreed, as the re- 
sult of negotiations carried on by Alfred F. Potts in July 
with the officials of the American Red Cross in Wash- 
ington, that citizens of Indianapolis should contribute 
$25,000 to the hospital instead of paying it into the na- 
tional war fund. The national war fund, it will be re- 
membered, was divided between national headquarters 
and the local chapter, the latter retaining only twenty- 
five per cent. The arrangement effected by Mr. Potts 
v^as a particularly happy solution, especially in view of 
the fact that two subscriptions amounting to $27,500 had 
been made at the Indianapolis Club dinner with the un- 
derstanding that they should be applied to the hospital. 
One of these two donations amounting to $15,000, came 
from Mr. and Mrs. Josiah K. Lilly, further testifying to 
the interest of the founder of the hospital in the work 
which it was designed to do. 

Early in the summer Dr. Clark, accompanied by Drs. 

*"A Red Cross Chapter at Work," by Marie Cecile and Anslem Chomel. 




LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDMUND D. CLARK 



Under the Red Cross 5 

O. G. Pfaff, Carleton B. McCulloch and Bernays Ken- 
nedy, all of whom were active in organizing the hospital, 
made a trip to Washington, Baltimore and New York for 
the purpose of conferring with Surgeon General Gorgas 
and with Colonel Jefiferson R. Kean, of the Red Cross, 
concerning certain details of the personnel and equip- 
ment. At Baltimore Dr. Clark, was in conference with 
Dr. J. C. Bloodgood, of the Johns Hopkins University, 
and acquired valuable data concerning the Johns Hop- 
kins Unit, which had already sailed for service overseas.* 
Several base hospitals organizing in New York furnished 
additional information. It was on this trip, too, that the 
Lilly Base Hospital was officially recognized and desig- 
nated as United States Army Base Hospital No. 32. 

The selection of Dr. Clark's staff proceeded rapidly 
and was practically completed by July i, although many 
of the commissions were not received until much later. 
The original staflf included Dr. Orange G. Pfafif, chief of 
surgical staff; Dr. Carleton B. McCulloch, Dr. Alois B. 
Graham, Dr. Charles D. Humes and Dr. Eugene B. 
Mumford; Dr. Bernays Kennedy, chief of medical stafif; 
Dr. Lafayette Page, Dr. Ray Newcomb and Dr. Joseph 
Kent Worthington. Other members were Drs. Leslie H. 
Maxwell, Paul Thomas Hurt, Smith Quimby, Ralph L. 
Sweet, Frank C. Walker, Scott R. Edwards, Ralph L. 
Lochry, Raymond C. Beeler, Robert M. Moore, Elmer 
Funkhouser, John T. Day and Joseph W. Ricketts. The 
dental staff was composed of Drs. J. W. Scherer and 
James V. Sparks. 

Miss Florence J. Martin was appointed chief nurse and 
assisted largely in the selection and organization of the 
nursing personnel. 

*The Johns Hopkins Unit, Base Hospital 18, sailed for France June 9, 
1917. They were stationed at Bazoilles-sur-Meuse, about twenty miles from 
Contrexeville. 



6 A History of Base Hospital 32 

The first enlisted men reported for examination May 
31, 1917. The number of applicants greatly exceeded the 
enlisted personnel limit, and the selections were, in the 
majority of cases, based upon special qualifications. Dr. 
Carleton B. McCulloch was active in the recruiting and 
selection of the men, and directed the physical examina- 
tions. Enlistment papers were signed on June 15th and 
26th, and the men were ordered to be ready for an active 
service call at any date. 

It is interesting to note that the organization and equip- 
ment of volunteer base hospitals had been delegated to the 
American Red Cross, and it was under their jurisdiction 
that the work of organizing and equipping Base Hospital 
32 proceeded. Indeed it was not until September i, 1917, 
when the unit was finally mustered into service, that the 
reins of control passed officially from the Red Cross to 
the War Department. Until that time practically all in- 
structions relating to equipment and personnel came 
through Red Cross channels. The director, purchasing 
agent and disbursing officer were appointed by the Amer- 
ican Red Cross, and were responsible to that organiza- 
tion. Monthly reports of disbursements were rendered to 
the national treasurer, and the purchase of equipment and 
the organization of the personnel were conducted under 
Red Cross supervision. The Indianapolis Chapter of the 
American Red Cross was closely associated with this early 
work, and the active interest and efforts of its president, 
Mr. William Fortune, contributed largely to expediting 
the organization and equipment of the hospital. 

Mention should be made here of the splendid co-opera- 
tion of the Indianapolis Red Cross Shop, which furnished 
the hospital with a complete supply of linen, bandages 
and surgical dressings. The Indianapolis Red Cross Shop 
began its operations early in the spring of 1917 with a 







I ■^- 1*- 



* -e ft *^ a. 




,*>?- 



m^?^:*v 



Ik-*- j.m- L'j^'jM^^— '--^s^j^-sr^sr-'^ >- 



TRAINING AT FORT HARRISON 



„._J 




'32'S" CAMP AT FORT HARRISON 



Under the Red Cross 7 

small group of women under the direction of Mrs. Phile- 
mon M. Watson. Mrs. Watson was succeeded as chair- 
man, July I, 1917, by Miss Jessie M. Goodwin. The his- 
tory of this organization, its growth, and the extent of its 
work, is a story in itself, of which the equipping of Base 
Hospital 32 is but a part. The total number of articles 
furnished the hospital reached 46,371, and included 
sheets, pillow cases, pajamas, operating gowns, surgical 
linen, table linen, and an immense number and variety of 
surgical dressings and bandages. In addition to Mrs. 
Watson and Miss Goodwin, other ladies who were promi- 
nently identified with the hospital equipment work were: 
Mrs. Robert S. Foster, Mrs. Wm. Pirtle Herod, Mrs. 
Hugh McGibney, Mrs. Meredith Nicholson, Mrs. 
Douglas Jillson, Mrs. William L. Elder and Mrs. 
Thomas Eastman. The vast amount of labor required to 
produce all this equipment was the result of the combined 
effort and painstaking work of hundreds of loyal Indiana 
women. Long before the unit was mobilized every item 
had been completed, packed in cases for overseas trans- 
portation, and stored in a local warehouse ready for ship- 
ment. 

Mid-August found the unit complete in every detail 
and eager for service. Officers' commissions that had been 
sidetracked in their devious journeys through the War 
Department were finally received. The enlisted personnel 
had been increased to 180. The work of packing and sten- 
cilling the equipment for overseas shipment was being 
rushed to completion. A few of the officers had already 
been called out and assigned to different stations for spe- 
cial training; Lieutenant Beeler to New York City for 
special X-ray work; Lieutenant Edwards to the Rocke- 
feller Institute for instructions in Carrel-Dakin treat- 
ment. Lieutenant Quimby to Fort Riley, Kan., and Cap- 



8 A History of Base Hospital 32 

tain Worthington to Fort Worth, Texas. The vacancy 
left by the withdrawal of Dr. Ray Newcomb was filled by 
Dr. Harry F. Byrnes, an eye specialist of Springfield, 
Mass., who was already on duty at Fort Harrison with 
the rank of captain. 

Rumors were rife that mobilization orders were immi- 
nent. Information came that two regular army officers 
would soon join the unit — one as commanding officer and 
the other as quartermaster, and that a non-commissioned 
officer would be assigned for the purpose of drilling the 
enlisted personnel. On August 15th Captain R. O. WoU- 
muth, Q. M. C, arrived in Indianapolis and reported to 
Dr. Clark for duty as quartermaster. Two days later the 
long-expected and eagerly awaited mobilization orders 
were received. In compliance with these orders the of- 
ficers and enlisted men of Base Hospital 32 were to report 
at Fort Benjamin Harrison, September ist, for a period 
of training and instruction. It was announced also that 
the nursing personnel would probably be mobilized at an 
early date, and trained at Ellis Island, joining the rest of 
the unit at the port of embarkation. 

The last days of August were marked by great activity. 
Under the direction of Captain WoUmuth the enlisted 
men were measured for uniforms. Anti-typhoid and 
smallpox vaccinations occupied several days. Arrange- 
ments for quarters at Fort Harrison, and for the officers' 
and enlisted men's mess were completed. The army or- 
ders of August 24th directed that Captain H. R. Beery, 
Medical Corps, proceed to Indianapolis to assume com- 
mand of Base Hospital 32. Captain Beery arrived in 
Indianapolis on August 27th and Sergeant Peter Pfrank- 
lin on August 30th. 

It was about this time that additional excitement was 
injected into the situation when orders were received to 



Under the Red Cross 9 

ship all equipment to the "Officer in Charge, Port of Em- 
barkation, Pier 41, New York City." Rumors ran riot. It 
seemed certain that Base Hospital 32 would soon sail. 

On September i, 1917, the unit entrained for Fort Ben- 
jamin Harrison. The control of Base Hospital 32 passed 
from the Red Cross to the War Department, and the his- 
tory of the hospital as a military organization had begun. 



II 

Fort Harrison 

THE mobilization of Base Hospital 32 is described 
in the Indianapolis Star of September 2nd: 

Officers and enlisted men of Indianapolis Base Hos- 
pital No. 32 spent their first night in camp at Fort Benja- 
min Harrison last night and during their stay there will 
live according to the regulation military routine, with 
special instruction in hospital work in addition. 

Commanded by Major Edmund D. Clark, director of 
the hospital, the men left the Union Station at 10 o'clock 
yesterday morning on a special train and were accorded 
as enthusiastic a "send-ofif" by the crowd assembled at the 
gates as if they were bound for France itself instead of for 
an encampment only a dozen miles away. 

Forming ranks in the train sheds, the enlisted men 
marched in single file to the train, and after them came 
Major Clark, Capt. H. R. Beery, military commander; 
Capt. R. O. Wollmuth, quartermaster, and the physicians 
and dentists holding the rank of captains and lieutenants. 
There are about twenty-four officers and 150 enlisted men 
now in camp. Twenty-nine young men, enlisted with the 
hospital as privates, who were informed a day or so ago 
that they could not go into active training now, were 
among the crowd that witnessed the hospital unit's depar- 
ture. These men possibly will see duty with the unit, how- 
ever, as they are being held on the reserve list.* Sergt. 
Pfranklin, of the regular army, has been appointed drill 
master for the hospital. He arrived in Indianapolis 
Thursday night and the mobilization work at the station 
was under his direction. 

The staff officers were immaculate in brand-new uni- 

*The mobilization orders limited the number of enlisted men to 153, and it 
was at first thought necessary to drop the surplus men from the roll. Subse- 
quently, however, it was decided to hold them in reserve, and still later, owing 
to numerous transfers and withdrawals, many of them were finally attached 
to the unit. 

lO 




NURSES OF BASE HOSPITAL 32 DRILLING AT COLL'MBIA WAR HOSPITAL, N. V. 




BASE HOSPITAL 32 OFFICERS AT FORT HARRISON 



Fort Harrison ii 

forms, leather puttees, gold and black hat cords, and the 
"caduceus" on the collars. The enlisted men had been 
provided with rather shabby uniforms, many of them 
second hand, but new ones will be provided immediately, 
as well as new shoes. 

The tents which Base Hospital 32 occupied at the fort 
were located in the northeast corner of the reservation. 
Six large tents, each accommodating approximately thirty 
army cots, served as quarters for the enlisted men. 
Smaller tents were erected for the officers, and three other 
tents were used for office headquarters, quartermaster's 
supplies and the officers' mess. A long line of tables east 
of the men's tents were provided for the men's mess. 
Water was piped to the front and rear of the company 
"street." In addition to their uniforms and clothing, each 
enlisted man received a mess kit, a shelter-half, three 
"O. D." blankets, and a luxury known as a bed-sack, 
which was filled with straw and served as a mattress. 

The first days at the fort were given over to turning a 
bunch of raw recruits into soldiers. Both officers and en- 
listed men were drilled in military formations, familiar- 
ized with army regulations, and studied the Articles of 
War. Lecture on physiology and practical first-aid work 
were given the enlisted men by the junior officers. The 
calendar of the day included roll call, "setting-up" exer- 
cises, morning and afternoon drill periods, and lectures. 
In addition, the enlisted men, from time to time, were re- 
quired to do guard duty, serve on policing details, and 
assist in the kitchen work. Non-commissioned officers 
were appointed, and under the direction of Sergeant 
Pfranklin, assisted largely by Sergeant Sheller, the work 
of drilling the men progressed rapidly. In a few weeks' 
time Base Hospital 32 acquired a proficiency in military 
formations and drill that was unusual in medical organi- 
zations. 



12 A History of Base Hospital 32 

In addition to Sergeant Sheller other enlisted men were 
singled out for special duty and promoted to corporals or 
sergeants. Among them were Callis, in charge of the 
mess, Asperger, Jennings and Duck in the headquarters 
office, Hitz in the medical supplies, George White in the 
quartermaster supplies and Reel, Rich, Swaim, Brewer, 
Pfafif, McHugh and Piatt Searle assigned to the detach- 
ment. Dudley White was in charge of the kitchen, as- 
sisted by Loechle, Hamilton, Plough, Hicks, Satters, 
Wagner and Kirkpatrick. 

With all this intensive training the organization en- 
joyed a good deal of leisure at Fort Harrison. Evening 
and Sunday passes to Indianapolis were issued liberally. 
Long hikes and occasional rabbit hunts broke the monot- 
ony of crisp autumn days. Thirty-two's camp became a 
popular gathering place for Indianapolis visitors, and 
long lines of cars were often parked beyond the tents. A 
piano was brought in from somewhere, and camp fire 
parties filled the evenings with melody and song. 

After a month's training the unit was as fit, physically, 
as an organization could be, and eager for service. Dur- 
ing October, by arrangement with a number of Indian- 
apolis hospitals, several detachments of men in charge of 
a non-commissioned officer were sent to these institutions 
for special instruction in hospital work. On October 17th 
the men received their first army pay, and on November 
I St the tents were abandoned and the unit moved into 
wooden cantonments for the balance of their stay at the 
fort. 

During this period of 32's history there were a number 
of changes in the personnel owing to transfer and with- 
drawals. On September i6th Major Clark and Captain 
Humes were ordered to Philadelphia for temporary duty 
with Dr. Frazier, head of the department of surgery of 
the University of Pennsylvania. During Major Clark's 




AN EARLY MORNING ^^'ASH, FORT HARRISON 




RABBIT CHASE, FORT HARRISON 



Fort Harrison ij 

absence Major Pfafif acted temporarily as director of the 
unit. Subsequently Major Pfaff was obliged to withdraw 
from the organization owing to an unfortunate accident 
which rendered him physically unfit for active service. 
Captain McCulloch was promoted to major and became 
chief of the surgical staff. Captain Worthington was 
transferred, and Captain Paul F. Martin was added to 
the roster. The position of chaplain was tendered to 
Bishop Joseph M. Francis, of the Episcopal Diocese of 
Indianapolis. During the last week at the fort Captain 
R. O. Wollmuth was relieved as quartermaster and was 
succeeded by Second Lieutenant Franklin P. Bushey. 

A complete list of the officers and enlisted personnel of 
Base Hospital 32 during their period of training at Fort 
Harrison follows : 

Major Harry R. Beery, M. C U. S. Army 

Major Edmund D. Clark, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Major Bernays Kennedy, M. R. C Indianapolis 

*Major Orange G. Pfaff, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Major Carleton B. McCulloch, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Captain Harry F. Byrnes, M. R. C Springfield, Mass. 

Captain Alois B. Graham, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Captain Charles D. Humes, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Captain Paul F. Martin, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Captain Eugene B. Mumford, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Captain Lafayette Page, M. R. C Indianapolis 

*Captain R. O. Wollmuth, Q. M. C U. S. Army 

*Captain Joseph K. Worthington, M, R. C Indianapolis 

Lieutenant Raymond C. Beeler, M. R. C Indianapohs 

Lieutenant Franklin P. Bushey, Q. M. C U. S. Army 

Lieutenant John T. Day, M. R. C Indianapolis 

fLieutenant Scott R. Edwards, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Lieutenant Elmer Funkhouser, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Lieutenant Paul T. Hurt, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Lieutenant Ralph L, Lochry, M. R. C Indianapolis 

♦Dropped from the roll of Base Hospital 32, prior to sailing, by transfer 
or otherwise. 

fSailed later as a casual, joining the unit at Contrexeville. 



14 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Lieutenant Leslie H. Maxwell Indianapolis 

Lieutenant Robert M. Moore, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Lieutenant Smith Quiniby, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Lieutenant Joseph W. Ricketts, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Lieutenant Jack W. Scherer, D. R. C Indianapolis 

Lieutenant James V. Sparks, D. R. C Indianapolis 

Lieutenant Ralph L. Sweet, M. R. C IndianapoHs 

Lieutenant Frank C. Walker, M. R. C Indianapolis 

Chaplain Joseph M. Francis, A. R. C Indianapolis 

John W. Ashe IndianapoHs 

Lewis N. Ashworth Connersville, Ind. 

Otto Asperger Indianapolis 

Earl L. Baker Bedford, Ind. 

Wilbur Baldwin New Harmony, Ind. 

*Almer Barnes Southport, Ind. 

Albert J. Bartle Shippersville, Pa. 

Richard Beck Delphi, Ind. 

Charles H. Biltimier Indianapolis 

Morris Blumenthal Indianapolis 

*Kenneth Bonesteel Indianapolis 

f Thomas Bowman Evansville, Ind. 

Harry M. Boyer Indianapolis 

Bernard Bradley Elwood, Ind. 

Ralph J. Brewer Indianapolis 

William J. Brosnan Indianapolis 

Harry W. Brown Monrovia, Ind. 

John Bubelis Lynn, Ind. 

*Edmond Butler Indianapolis 

Harold B. Callis Kokomo, Ind. 

Clarence L. Campbell Indianapolis 

John P. Carroll Indianapolis 

Charles Carter Indianapolis 

Colby L. Chapman Greensburg, Ind. 

Jay Connaway _ Indianapolis 

Raymond A. Cooke Goodland, Ind. 

Vernon R. Corrigan Indianapolis 

Benjamin A. Cotharin Huntington, Ind. 



*Dropped from the roll of Base Hospital 32, prior to sailing, by transfer 
or otherwise. 

fSailed later as a casual, joining the unit at Contrexeville. 



Fort Harrison 15 

*John Dages Muncie, Ind. 

Albert L. Daugherty Indianapolis 

John P. Davey Indianapolis 

William P. Davis Indianapolis 

David Dean Indianapolis 

Joseph C. Delaney Indianapolis 

Moris W. Drake Shelbyville, Ind. 

Morris Drosdowitz Indianapolis 

C. Curtis Duck Indianapolis 

John H. Duncan Greenfield, Ind. 

Herman L. Earnest Indianapolis 

Ernest Erdmann Greensburg, Ind. 

Rufus A. Eudaly Sheridan, Ind. 

Winters W. Fehr Indianapolis 

Clem R. Feirrell Muncie, Ind. 

George Fishback Terre Haute, Ind. 

Harry W. Fisher IndianapoHs 

Kenneth Fisk Indianapolis 

Earl H. Fitchett Indianapolis 

Harry H. Fletcher Indianapolis 

Walter A. Foreman Windfall, Ind. 

Malcolm Fox Indianapolis 

Benjamin H. Gaither Indianapolis 

Terry Geise Indianapolis 

Roger Giles Richmond, Ind. 

Harry C. Gilmore Franklin, Ind. 

Homer B. Goodale New Castle, Ind. 

Paul R. Graham Elwood, Ind. 

*Dwight Green Indianapolis 

Hugh H. Green Indianapolis 

Earl M. Gregory Indianapolis 

John L. Griffith Indianapolis 

Edd G. Hagaman Indianapolis 

Hallie L, Hamilton Yeoman, Ind. 

Samuel O. Hart Anderson, Ind. 

Robert F. HefFner Muncie, Ind. 

Lewis C. Herbert Cairo. 111. 

Elmer H. Hess Indianapolis 



*Dropped from the roll of Base Hospital Z2, prior to sailing, Ijy transfer 
or otherwise. 



i6 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Wilbur Hicks Indianapolis 

Emmett Hiland Zionsville, Ind. 

Howard E. Hildebrand Huntington, Ind. 

Benjamin D. Hitz Indianapolis 

John W. Hoffman Indianapolis 

Harry R. Hollenbeck Indianapolis 

* William J. Holliday Indianapolis 

Herman H. Hollingsworth Goshen, Ind. 

John J. Holloran Indianapolis 

Robert V. Hunsdon New Harmony, Ind. 

William V. Iverson Indianapolis 

Coutsie R. Jackson Noblesville, Ind. 

Loomis Jennings Indianapolis 

Richard K. Johnson Indianapolis 

WilHam C. Johnson Lafayette, Ind. 

Dwight K. Jones IndianapoHs 

Gerald G. Jones Danville, Ind. 

Arthur A. Judd IndianapoHs 

Basil D. Judkins Indianapolis 

Edward C. Kahle Indianapolis 

Charles D. Kelly Indianapolis 

^Wallace Kemp Indianapolis 

Russell B. Kirkpatrick Rushville, Ind. 

John P. Kroeger. Indianapolis 

Edward Kurr St. Paul, Ind. 

Cornelius J. Lanahan Indianapolis 

Thomas Lanahan Indianapolis 

John H. Langan Tipton, Ind. 

Lloyd L. Locke Bridgeport, Ind. 

William P. Loechle Indianapolis 

Luke Logan Indianapolis 

*Lynn Logsdon Indianapolis 

Clifford Lounsbury Schenectady, N. Y. 

Clifford E. Lupton Indianapolis 

Marchael C. Lyons Indianapolis 

George E. Magee Indianapolis 

Artie V. Mangus Indianapolis 

Paul R. Matthews Indianapolis 

*Dropped from the roll of Base Hospital 32, prior to sailing, by transfer 
or otherwise. 




tiARE DE L'EST, CONTREXEVIELE 




KL E LH' I'uM UolCK, LooKIXCi lOVNAKI) THE K()^■AL 



Fort Harrison 17 

Walker R. Marshall Bloomfield, Ind. 

John R. Maugham Indianapolis 

John McArdle Indianapolis 

William N. McClure Indianapolis 

*Marion McCormick Indianapolis 

Duncan C. McDougall Indianapolis 

Irwin C. McDonald Lebanon, Ind. 

Jay B. McElwaine Indianapolis 

Thomas D. McHugh IndianapoHs 

John D. Mclntire IndianapoHs 

Cyril A. McLaughlin Belief ontaine, Ohio 

*Charles Meyer, Jr Indianapolis 

Elmer E. Miller Elwood, Ind. 

*Martin Moran Indianapolis 

Pierre S. Morgan Indianapolis 

Paul W. Mulcahy Logansport, Ind. 

*Theodore Munchoff Indianapolis 

Wade J. O'Hern Indianapolis 

Raymond O'Reilly Indianapolis 

*Kenner Palmer Washington, Ind. 

*Dudley Pfaff Indianapolis 

Peter Pfranklin U. S. Army 

Vern F. Plough Marion, Ind. 

Theodore G. Plumb Indianapolis 

Harold B. Poindexter Indianapolis 

Whitney C. Porter Indianapolis 

Joseph M. Pugh IndianapoHs 

Edward T. Quinn Indianapolis 

Oliver Reed Indianapolis 

Leonard R. Reel Indianapolis 

Edward D. Reeves Indianapolis 

Clarence D. Reitenour Union City, Ind. 

Roy F. Rich Indianapolis 

Harry L. Riddell Indianapolis 

Glenn A. Riggs Indianapolis 

Paul F. Ritter Indianapolis 

Dar A. Robinson Frankfort, Ind. 

Paul N. Routh Zionsville, Ind. 

♦Dropped from the roll of Base Hospital 32, prior to sailing, by transfer 
or otherwise. 



1 8 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Frank Russell Greensburg, Ind. 

Albert C. Sanagan Indianapolis 

*George Sandf ord • • • • Indianapolis 

Albert Satters Morgantown, Ind. 

*Paul Scharffin Indianapolis 

Ferrell G. Searle Greenville, Ohio 

*Piatt Searle Indianapolis 

Charles G. Selch Indianapolis 

Vernon G. Sheller Indianapolis 

Arnold J. Sellmeyer Indianapohs 

Peter J. Sertell Indianapolis 

Glenn Smith Indianapolis 

Moiitelle E. Smith Indianapolis 

^Raymond Smith Terre Haute, Ind. 

Claude E. Snyder Indianapolis 

Wilbur M. Stephan Chalmers, Ind. 

William A. Stephens Indianapolis 

*Elam Stewart Paxton, 111. 

Charles S. Stough Indianapolis 

Louis S. Stuart Indianapolis 

Bernard Stuvel Indianapolis 

Leslie E. Summers Chicago, 111. 

Martin L. Sutton Indianapolis 

George O. Swaim Indianapolis 

*Ralph D. Thrasher Indianapolis 

William H. Wagner Shelbyville, Ind. 

*Ray Wakefield Indianapolis 

Paul W. Weer Indianapolis 

Russell D. Wells Indianapolis 

Don Westf all Indianapolis 

Dudley White Spencer, Ind. 

George L. White Kentland, Ind. 

Clifford J. Williams Indianapolis 

Earl M. Wise Indianapolis 

Worth E. Wright Indianapolis 

Earl W. Yarling Indianapolis 

Lowell R. Young Indianapolis 

Ray R. Yount Trafalgar, Ind. 

*Dropped from the roll of Base Hospital 32, prior to sailing, by transfer 
or otherwise. 



Fort Harrison 19 

The last month at Fort Harrison was filled with ru- 
mors. The unit was impatient for active service, and sail- 
ing orders were expected momentarily. On November 
3rd the enlisted men gave a farewell party at the Hotel 
Severin in honor of Major and Mrs. Beery. The party was 
a great success, but the farewell proved premature, and 
time dragged on. About the middle of November it be- 
came known that the hospital equipment which had been 
shipped to New York had been sent ahead to an unknown 
port in France. It was also published that all units were 
to leave, and the fort was to be cleared by December ist. 
Hopes ran high, and rumors multiplied. On November 
28th orders were actually received to be prepared to en- 
train December ist, only to be rescinded within twenty- 
four hours. It was rumored that the hospital would not 
sail before spring. Hopes were dashed, and the morale 
was low. About ten o'clock Saturday morning, December 
ist, after many of the officers and men had left the fort on 
passes, orders were received that Base Hospital 32 would 
entrain for Hoboken at six o'clock that night. With less 
than eight hours to complete all traveling arrangements, 
the last day at the fort was one of feverish activity. Phone 
calls and messengers were rushed to Indianapolis to bring 
back the men who had gone in on passes. Typewriters, 
office equipment, quartermaster and mess supplies were 
packed for shipment. Travel rations were obtained, bar- 
racks cleaned and personal baggage packed. By five 
o'clock Base Hospital 32 was ready to leave. Meanwhile 
news of the travel orders spread over Indianapolis, and 
relatives and friends gathered at the fort for a last fare- 
well. At a few minutes before six the men shouldered 
their packs, and, with officers leading, marched to the 
waiting train. 

During these three months while the officers and men 
were training at Fort Harrison the nurses of Base Hos- 



20 A History of Base Hospital 32 

pital 32 were undergoing a somewhat similar experience 
at Hoboken and Ellis Island, 

On September 7, 1917, the following nurses took the 
oath of office at the Indianapolis City Hospital and were 
assigned to active service in the military establishment: 

Florence J. Martin, Chief Nurse Indianapolis 

Hazel Alkire Marco, Ind. 

Elizabeth Bachinger Indianapolis 

Lillie V. Beck Indianapolis 

Hazel Fern Bennett Indianapolis 

Martha R. Berger South Bend, Ind. 

May Berry Indianapolis 

Helen Biggert Crawfordsville, Ind. 

NelHe M. Birch Terre Haute, Ind. 

Dixie Borders Indianapolis 

Mary M. Bowen Indianapolis 

Bertha E. Boyles Indianapolis 

Viola Mae Burleson Indianapolis 

Julia Clements Indianapolis 

Mayme C. Clickner Indianapolis 

Nelle B. Davis Indianapolis 

Ruth E. Dillon Indianapolis 

*Goldie Downs IndianapoHs 

Emma F. Ealey Indianapolis 

Jessie M. Ervin IndianapoHs 

Maude F. Essig Elkhart, Ind. 

Mary Fergusson Indianapolis 

Susan Genolin Indianapolis 

Edna June Gray Indianapolis 

Mary Gladys Grim Indianapolis 

Mary B. Houser Indianapolis 

Birda R. Hunt Indianapolis 

Ruth H. Ikerd Bloomington, Ind. 

Mary F. Kochman Indianapolis 

Alma Lancaster Indianapolis 

*Laura E. Lowe Indianapolis 

*Dropped from the roll of Base Hospital 32, prior to sailing, by transfer 
or otherwise. 







contrexeville looking toward vittel 




THE MILL 



Fort Harrison 21 

Bertha B. Mahan Indianapolis 

Mary Ruth McBee Craw fords ville, Ind. 

EHzabeth Melville Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Estelle F. Miller Indianapolis 

Jeanette A. Miller Indianapolis 

Edna C. Mowrer Indianapolis 

Mary E. Mullen Liberty, Ind. 

Clara L. Need Indianapolis 

Mayme O'Connell Indianapolis 

Marie O'Keefe Indianapolis 

Elsie Peacock Indianapolis 

Lena Lee Payne Indianapolis 

Evelyn Potter Indianapolis 

Amy A. Prosser Indianapolis 

Beulah G. Prust Terre Haute, Ind. 

Tulie I. Roberson Indianapolis 

Nellie Rock Indianapolis 

Eleanor C. Ryan Indianapolis 

Ida A. Scholer Indianapolis 

Myrtle Shimer Wanamaker, Ind. 

Golda F. Smith Terre Haute, Ind. 

Helen A. Thompson New Harmony, Ind. 

Addie Threlkeld Indianapolis 

Ruth Gayle Totten Indianapolis 

*Mary Tyner Indianapolis 

Hermina E. Wagner Indianapolis 

Alys Weitendorf Indianapolis 

Ruth Wright Indianapolis 

The majority of the nurses who volunteered held re- 
sponsible positions in the different lines of nursing activi- 
ties, superintendents of training schools, supervisors, head 
surgical nurses, public health nurses and valuable private 
duty nurses alike gave up their work to serve with the 
Base Hospital without question of remuneration or posi- 
tion on the nursing staff. 

On Sunday morning, September 9, 1917, these nurses 

*Dropped from the roll of Base Hospital 32, prior to sailing, by transfer 
or otherwise. 



22 A History of Base Hospital 32 

left Indianapolis, under orders to proceed to U. S. Army 
General Hospital No. i, Gunhill Road and Bainbridge 
Avenue, New York, to await transportation to France. 

Just before the unit boarded the train it received an 
American flag, the gift of the Indianapolis City Hospital 
Alumnae Association. The colors were presented by Miss 
Elizabeth Johnson and accepted by Florence J. Martin. 
Later, while in New York, the unit received an Indiana 
banner, the gift of Mrs. Charles Mayer, of Indianapolis, 
and the Indianapolis Chapter of the American Red Cross 
gave each nurse a rubber blanket and fifty dollars in gold. 

When the nurses arrived in New York they were 
joined by 

Mary A. Scales (Assistant to C. N.) Newark, N. J. 

Mary Kennedy Harvey, 111. 

Alice Harvey Washington, D. C. 

Mary Mangan Detroit, Mich. 

Johanna Montgomery Detroit, Mich. 

and just before sailing: 

Margaret McCoppin Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Anna Marie Rohr Massapequa, L. I. 

Olga Anderson Plainfield, N. J. 

Florine Ostenzi Brooklyn, N. Y. 

For the first three weeks the nurses were quartered at 
the newly established U. S. Army General Hospital (Co- 
lumbia War Hospital), which was built to accommodate 
1,500 American wounded when they would come from 
the European battlefields. Here the nurses received their 
first impressions of army life, the wooden barracks with 
rows of white beds, the shower baths, the mess line and 
bare tables, the two hours' drill each morning, and the 
grand rush into the city for uniforms and other equip- 
ment. 



Fort Harrison 23 

On September 28th orders were received for the Army 
Nurse Corps of Base Hospital No. 32 to proceed to St. 
Mary's Hospital, Hoboken, N. J., at 11 a. m., on the fol- 
lowing day. The three-weeks' stay at Hoboken was by no 
means uneventful, the most important event being the 
Red Cross parade on October 4th, in which 10,000 women 
in the service of the Red Cross marched down Fifth Ave- 
nue. The nurses of Base Hospital No. 32, in blue dresses 
without capes, marched with 2,000 other nurses, who 
were soon to be in service in France. Then after more 
days of waiting came the third installment of travel or- 
ders. Baggage was to be ready at 8 a. m., and again 
sailing orders loomed up only to land the nurses at Ellis 
Island. 

There, through the efficiency and kindness of Misses 
Mury and Jourgensen, the final touches were put on the 
preparations for overseas service. The terrifying pass that 
each nurse must guard with her life. Liberty Bonds, War 
Risk Insurance and identification papers were secured. 

On October 27th the following civilian employees of 
the enlisted personnel reported for mobilization with the 
nurses of Base Hospital 32: 

Mary Bostwick (Stenographer) Indianapolis 

Charlotte Cathcart (Stenographer) IndianapoHs 

Georgia Finlay (Dietitian) Oneida, 111. 

Geraldine Frost (Stenographer) Washington, D. C. 

Mary Beaty Herod (Interpreter) Indianapolis 

Gertrude Steffen (Stenographer) Indianapolis 

From the time they joined the unit they became an indis- 
pensable part of the organization. 

On December 2nd the long-awaited travel orders came. 
Since it was Sunday, only a few of the nurses were found 
at home, and the last boat nurses did not receive the news 
until midnight. The rest of the night was taken up with 
hurried shampoos, baths, washing and final packing. But 



24 A History of Base Hospital 32 

with the invaluable assistance of Punch and Judy, two 
soldiers who had been assigned to the nurses at Ellis 
Island, all baggage was ready and the nurses boarded the 
tug that carried them to the Hoboken docks at 1 1 a. m. 
The nurses of 32 will never forget the kindness of the 
Ellis Island employees, especially in those last few min- 
utes — the restaurant men bringing sandwiches and coffee 
to the tug, the captain holding up the boat until the mail, 
just arrived, had been distributed, and the farewell from 
the hundreds of employees in the immigration building. 
It was on board the now famous George Washington, 
about to make its first trip as a transport, that the nurses 
joined the officers and enlisted personnel of the unit, and 
at ten o'clock on the evening of the 4th of December set 
sail for France. 



Ill 

The Voyage 

LINES DEDICATED TO THE BAY OF BISCAY. 

The terrorizing Teuton and the wily Magyar horde, 
Were threatening the Universe, and so we went aboard, 
That steady transport, Washington, one sunHt day serene. 
To sail the Bay of Biscay in the Fall of Seventeen. 

The troop ship, it was crowded with coons and stevedores, 
Packed lengthwise, sidewise, endwise, betwixt the various floors. 
(In nautical vernacular, I'd say "the decks between"), 
When we sailed the Bay of Biscay in the Fall of Seventeen. 

Our sailing was auspicious as we slipped away at night. 
They corked up all the funnels and they doused each vagrant 

light, 
As we slipped away to Europe with water, wind and steam, 
To sail the Bay of Biscay in the Fall of Seventeen. 

The planet-powdered heavens were studded with the flare. 
Of lustrous constellations whose providential glare, 
Insistently invited us to hurry and convene. 
Across the Bay of Biscay in the Fall of Seventeen. 

But Aeolus was angry and he loosed a tiny breeze. 

Which crumpled up the ocean with overwhelming seas, 

Till each face was full of anguish, each countenance was green. 

When we crossed the Bay of Biscay in the Fall of Seventeen. 

The pudding that we swallowed we soon put over side. 

With gastric gurgitations that could not be denied. 

There would have been no difference if dessert had been ice 

cream, 
The Bay was mighty turbulent, December, Seventeen. 

25 



26 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Slum-guUion for breakfast, slum-gullion at noon, 
With frequent interspersing of the ever-faithful prune. 
Oh, these and other hardships would often intervene, 
When we sailed the Bay of Biscay in the Fall of Seventeen. 

The sun was always shining in the pleasant land of France, 
The women all were beautiful, you saw it at a glance. 
The wine was effervescent, it had to be, I ween, 
To tempt me 'cross old Biscay in the Fall of Seventeen. 

When the struggle is concluded and victory is sure. 

The foe must take some punishment most grievous to endure ; 

I'll offer this suggestion when the councillors convene — 

They be made to cross old Biscay in some Fall like Seventeen. 

December, 1917. Dr. Carleton B. McCulloch. 



THREE months and four days after Base Hospital 
32 had been mustered in the unit set sail for France. 
The officers, nurses and enlisted men had their first re- 
union on board the transport George Washington on the 
morning of December 3rd. When the nurses and their 
multitudinous baggage arrived the officers and men were 
already aboard, having detrained at Hoboken early in the 
morning and marched directly to the pier. 

Here, after a final physical examination, the men filed 
up the gangway and were directed to their quarters in 
section G-i, far down below the water line where the 
bunks were swung in tiers, three high, one above the 
other. As they passed on to the ship each man was handed 
a printed slip of instructions, of which the following is a 
facsimile: 



The Voyage 27 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TROOPS. 



Your bunk 
No. is 



Troop Space 



Abandon Ship. 



Decks are lettered from upper deck down : A, B, C, D, E, F and G. 

Troop spaces are lettered and numbered : the letter signifying the deck and 
the number the troop space on that deck, counting from forward. 

Keep your life preserver with you at all times when at sea. Before disem- 
barking, make the life preserver fast to your bunk, as others will want it after 
you have left the ship. 

The use of tobacco, either smoking or chewing, is prohibited at 
all times in the berthing spaces. 

Smoking allowed in messing spaces on E deck at night after supper, 
until tatoo is sounded. On open deck during daylight. 

Matches and searchlights are not allowed in the ship. 

Smoking lamps are provided in messing spaces instead of matches. 

Remember that an exposed light may result in the discovery of the ship 
by the enemy. Do not throw rubbish of any kind into toilet or wash 
troughs. (This includes tobacco bags and heavy paper.) 

It is forbidden to throw anything overboard in the daytime. 

All rubbish will be put in the rubbish cans placed about the ship. 

All wooden boxes and other articles that will float will be sent to the fire 
room or galleys and burnt. Metal boxes and cans will be punched with holes 
and thrown overboard at night with the garbage. Do not place anything in 
garbage cans that will float. 

Wash your mess gear in TUBS provided for that purpose. Wash your 
face and hands in BASINS in the WASH ROOMS. DO NOT 
REMOVE BASINS from the WASH ROOMS. 

When the general alarm gongs are sounded, men assigned to life boats will 
"fall in" abreast of their respective boats. 

Men berthed in F-1, F-3, F-4 and G-1 who man life rafts, will "fall in" in 
E-4. All other men will stand fast by their bunks and await orders. 

In case of Abandon Ship, remember there is lots of time and every man 
must wait for a call. 

Troops may use the following spaces for recreation : 

"C" deck, both sides, from main-mast to jiggermast. 

"D" deck, from after bulkhead to stern. 

Troops must not enter officers' quarters except on duty. 

Troops are forbidden the following places at all times, except when on 
duty: 

1. All that part of the ship forward of the mainmast. 

2. All decks above "C" deck. 

3. "B" and "C" deck of after deck house. 

4. Engine and fire rooms. 

5. Steering engine room. 

6. Cargo spaces and hatch trunks. 

Do not crowd or rush. To do so will cause confusion and possible loss of 
life. Consult bulletin boards for your Abandon Ship station. 



28 A History of Base Hospital 32 

The George Washington had formerly been a German 
liner of much glory and splendor, with noble saloons and 
lounges, luxurious furniture, and an abundance of carv- 
ing, frescoing and other decorations, but since the time 
the German government had parted with its prize all this 
had been changed. Gone were the handsome furnishings 
of the boat; vanished entirely were the articles and objects 
designed for the gratification of a luxury-loving traveling 
public. The George, as the boat came to be called, with 
more or less affection, depending on whether one was sea- 
sick or not, was now a transport, nothing more. All that 
remained of its former splendor were the placid portraits 
of George Washington and his faithful spouse, Martha, 
which still gazed down from the walls of the former 
lounge. 

The unit had felt large and important before it went on 
board, but it was quickly absorbed in the vast throngs of 
other patriotic voyagers. In all the transport carried 
some 8,000 troops. These included the Sixth regiment of 
engineers in command of Colonel Hartz, who was mili- 
tary commander of the boat, several companies of ex- 
tremely brunette stevedores fresh from the southern states, 
and a scattering of infantrymen, artillerymen, aviators 
and coast artillerymen, not to mention some army field 
clerks and civilian employees, who did not seem to ex- 
actly belong. Among the more noteworthy passengers 
v/ere six major generals: Major Generals Green, Hale, 
Plummer, Bell, Allen and Swift. 

The first day on board passed uneventfully. Those who 
imagined the boat would sail that night were disap- 
pointed. All that night and all the following day the big 
bateau remained tied to Pier 3. Those on board roamed 
at large over the vessel, poking their noses down the 
hatches where loading was continually going on, mount- 
ing the bridge deck for a better view of the harbor, or 



The Voyage 29 

exploring the lowest recesses of the hold. AH about was 
great activity. Whistles tooted, machinery groaned and 
squeaked. Guards stood at the gangways to prevent any 
one from going ashore. Everybody wandered about ask- 
ing everybody else when the boat would sail, and while 
no one knew definitely, all concerned were right on hand 
with "I heard" or "they say" — the rumors including such 
comforting reports as that Wall Street was betting four to 
one that the George Washington would never make port. 
An "abandon ship" drill also enlivened the last day, every 
one being presented with brand new life preservers all as 
white as snow, although long before the end of the voyage 
was reached these same life preservers looked as if they 
had made numerous journeys in an ash cart. 

The rumor, apparently well founded, was abroad that 
the George would sail the night of December 4th, and 
every one was naturally desirous of remaining above deck 
to do a little farewell cheering and catch a last glimpse 
of the Statue of Liberty. Only a favored few were thus 
privileged, and at an early hour the vast majority was 
chased below decks to their hermetically sealed state- 
rooms, or to their more or less odorous quarters on the 
lower decks. Sometime between ten and eleven o'clock 
the throb of the engines ran over the ship, increasing 
steadily in intensity, and the George Washington started 
on its journey for France, slipping out, as did all other 
transports, silent and dark, not a light showing. 

Far, far from the U. S. A., was the George when morn- 
ing came. On all sides the ocean stretched away endlessly 
to the horizon. Accompanying the George Washington 
was another, and somewhat smaller transport, the Huron, 
and convoying the two were the Montana, a venerable sea 
fighter, and a torpedo destroyer which was to chaperon 
the convoy until it got far enough out into the ocean to 
reduce the danger of submarines to a minimum. 



30 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Every possible precaution against submarines was 
taken. All matches and flashlights were given up to the 
ship's authorities. Windows and portholes were closed 
and sealed, and all passageways opening directly on to 
the decks were either unlighted, or lighted only by a dim 
blue lamp. Every few yards along the rail of the prome- 
nade deck were lookout' stations, in each of which two 
guards, one sailor and one soldier, constantly scanned the 
horizon with field glasses, and reported every foreign 
object to the bridge by telephone. The ship zig-zagged 
continuously on her course, veering first to right then to 
left, and so did the other ships in the convoy. Nor was 
the George entirely unprepared to do a little scrapping 
on her own account, as guns, with nosebags over the muz- 
zles to protect them from the damp sea air were mounted 
both fore and aft. Target practice one afternoon proved 
the presence of some excellent gunners aboard, but no 
submarine offered them a chance for real action. 

It was not long before all on board became accustomed 
to the ship, and to its routine, although, aside from the 
regular "Abandon Ship" drills, which came at irregular 
intervals, there was not much routine, except for the 
guards in the lookout boxes and the unhappy officers who 
had to take their turns climbing aloft to the crow's nest. 
Very few of the officers escaped this, and a portly officer 
crawling up a ladder and later making his way through 
the inside of the mast, to emerge into the open and haul 
himself over the edge of the nest, is considerable of a 
sight. The decks were absolutely dark at night; not a 
cigar, cigarette or flashlight was permitted. The precau- 
tions even went so far that some of the nurses who had 
tam-o'shanters with little white pompons on the top were 
ordered to remove said white pompons for fear that a 
prowling U-boat might sight one and get the range. 
White sweaters were forbidden. As for lighting a match 



The Voyage 31 

on deck, anybody that did that would probably have been 
buried at sea. However, though this business about the 
darkened decks was undoubtedly a hardship, all con- 
cerned seemed to bear up bravely under it, and it did not 
interfere with nocturnal promenades. 

The enlisted men would gather together on E deck and 
sing such famous cantos as "Over There," "Joan of Arc" 
and "Good-bye, Broadway." They sang well and always 
had a large and enthusiastic audience hanging over the 
railing on the deck above listening, everybody with life 
preservers slung around their necks, like the Albatross 
and the Ancient Mariner in the poem. 

The days passed quietly and peacefully until the after- 
noon of December 7th. It had been warm that morning, 
but the sky and sea were gray, and it got colder, and be- 
fore long those who had loudly proclaimed they wanted 
to see a storm at sea got their wish. Rain and a tearing 
wind swept down upon the convoy. The seas got higher 
and higher, and the George tipped like a pendulum, while 
the little torpedo destroyer careened like a toy boat, some- 
times completely hidden by the water. Along in the 
middle of the afternoon there began a series of terrific 
crashes from the dining-room on C deck, as, with a grand 
rattle, all the crockery slid off the tables, and from all 
parts of the boat sounded the bang and smash of bottles, 
dishes and other breakables. 

It was then that the good sailors began to be distin- 
guished from the bad sailors, for mal de mer descended 
like a blight upon the company. It was no respecter of 
ranks — generals, majors and colonels succumbed and lay 
in ghastly greenish rows in their deck chairs. The sight 
on the foredeck, where the enlisted men emerged to take 
the air, was pitiful in the extreme. Those who were not 
seasick rudely sang a song, "My breakfast lies over the 
ocean, my breakfast lies over the sea, my breakfast lies 



The Voyage 33 

would soon enter the danger zone, and that a convoy of 
destroyers would shortly pick us up, but for days all the 
watching of the horizon failed to reveal this much adver- 
tised convoy, and "somebody" said that a message had 
been received in the wireless room, and that the message 
was said to have come from a U-boat, and that it said, 
"Come on, George Washington, you're three days late." 
Those of nervous temperament were regaled with this 
narrative so frequently that they got a drawn look about 
the eyes. Abandon Ship drills went on, the life preservers 
by this time presenting a most horrible appearance. The 
engineers' fife and drum corps played frequently, with 
ear-splitting energy; target practice was indulged in by 
the gobs, the colored brethren expressing great distaste 
for this proceeding. A new custom was also inaugurated 
— that of serving only two meals a day, breakfast and din- 
ner, at strange and unearthly hours. Nobody understood 
exactly what entering the danger zone had to do with 
dispensing with the third meal, or whether it was because 
the eats were running short, but there was nobody to 
argue with. Patronage of the canteen increased. 

And then about noon on December 15th a wonderful 
thing took place. From various points on the horizon 
black smoke smudges appeared. Field glasses were at a 
premium, while everybody struggled for a look. The 
smudges slowly revealed themselves as vessels of some 
sort. They came closer, and when they were close enough 
to really be seen, it was as if a flock of half a dozen gaudy 
butterflies had appeared out of space, to circle about the 
George Washington. 

The camoufleurs had done themselves proud on those 
six destroyers — camoufleurs with an imagination and 
plenty of paint. Every color of the rainbow, and many 
colors that would be total strangers to a rainbow were 
represented in the brilliantly hued stripes, bands and 



34 A History of Base Hospital 32 

spots that adorned every inch of the ships. Pink, blue, 
purple, green, yellow, orange, black, scarlet — an explo- 
sion in a paint factory would be the only thing approach- 
ing it. One destroyer was especially remarkable in that 
it had a color scheme in which a vivid pink predomi- 
nated. It had, among other things, not only a pink crow's 
nest, looking like a pink celluloid puff box, but a pink 
cannon. As somebody said, "Gosh, I've seen a lot of 
things, but I never saw a pink cannon before." 

The days of December i6th and 17th will always stand 
out vividly in the memory of every person on the ship. 
The storm that met the George Washington as it ap- 
proached the Bay of Biscay was one that even the oldest 
sailor in the convoy will never forget. Beginning on Sun- 
day, the 1 6th, with a heavy gale and a sinister sky, the 
storm increased steadily in violence for two days. As 
early as Sunday afternoon the sea was rising so high that 
even those on the upper decks were drenched. The ship 
heaved like a balloon, and the fantastic little destroyers 
were tossed about like toys, now poised, almost vertically 
on the crest of a mountain-high wave, then dashed down 
and often half submerged into a churning valley of the 
sea. Through the gathering gloom lights kept winking 
from the Huron and from the destroyers, but still no 
lights were permitted on deck. 

There was little sleep for any one that night. Above 
the crash of the storm could be heard the crash of crock- 
ery, tin trays, furniture and persons who had lost their 
balance and fallen in the dim corridors where only the 
faintest of blue lights showed. Furniture and baggage 
skated hither and yon as the ship rolled and plunged. 
Down in G-i mess kits and other loose equipment of the 
men clattered back and forth across the floor in an in- 
discriminate mass, all night long. 



The Voyage 35 

When morning broke there were scenes of utter chaos 
in the staterooms and in the quarters of the enlisted men. 
Outside the sea presented a terrible series of hills, valleys 
and mountain ranges of water. The Huron and most of 
the destroyers had scattered somewhere in the smother of 
the waves. As for the George Washington, half the life 
boats on the port side had been carried away, and frag- 
ments of others dangled from the davits. Several of the 
lookout stations had been smashed like paper boxes and 
four men on duty at these posts had been washed over- 
board.* The engineer of the ship said that this gale, run- 
ning eighty-five miles an hour, was the worst he had ever 
encountered in all his fifty-three trips across. 

Before long the order came to clear the decks, and no 
one was allowed above for the balance of the day except 
those whose duties absolutely required it. Those who 
tired of clinging to their bunks spent the time devising 
new ways of dodging furniture and other rapidly moving 
bodies. Down in the men's quarters there were still a 
hated few who were neither too sick nor too scared to 
joke. It was too rough for the popular pastime of rolling 
dice, but every time the George rolled over on her side 
these men gambled on whether she would ever come 
back up again. When meals appeared they slid off the 
tables, but they were not worth bothering much about 
anyway, as the cuisine had fallen to a low level. It must 
have been about this time that boiled cabbage made its 
appearance at breakfast. 

The next day, December i8th, was very cold, but the 
sea had gone down enough to permit going on deck again. 
The Huron reappeared, five of the destroyers found their 
way back to the convoy, one by one, and a wonderful rain- 



*Some reports were to the effect that six men were lost, but this was not 
confirmed. 



36 A History of Base Hospital 32 

bow arched itself across the sky. Every one wandered 
about inspecting the havoc wrought by the storm, and 
those who had been assigned to lifeboats on the port side 
gazed gloomily at the remnants of their erstwhile means 
of escape in case the ship were torpedoed. The next day 
passed uneventfully and the George Washington made 
good time. Along toward evening the convoy split, and 
the Huron steered off, presumably for St. Nazaire, while 
the George Washington continued on. A lighthouse was 
sighted, and excitement ran high. 

December 20th was a big day in the history of 32. 
Those who were on deck early were rewarded with some 
very fine displays of smoke screens from the destroyers 
to the starboard. It was by this time generally known 
that the destination was Brest and the boat was now enter- 
ing the very worst of the danger zone, that which lies just 
outside the vigilantly guarded areas of the harbor. Pre- 
cautions against submarines were doubled. The guns 
were manned, and the destroyers skirted nervously around 
as the big ship zigzagged on her course. Suddenly, some- 
where off the starboard side, a dark object bobbed into 
view. It was all the work of a moment. The ship's siren 
screamed its blood-curdling wail. A gun boomed. There 
was a tense moment of waiting, and then more dark ob- 
jects, dozens of them — a school of porpoises splashed to- 
ward the ship! The thrill of excitement that passed over 
the boat turned to laughter, but respect for the navy in- 
creased. They were ready. The incident bespoke alert- 
ness with a capital A. 

Finally the lighthouse loomed up dimly, apparently 
rising directly from the ocean itself, and looking in the 
distance no larger than a clothes-pin. Far away shadowy 
land began to appear. A big Stars and Stripes went up at 
the stern of the boat, instead of the smaller flag. 

A few minutes before 1 1 o'clock, with a mighty roar of 



The Voyage 37 

engines, two Italian biplanes, showing red, green and 
white on the under sides of their wings, appeared and 
circled about the ship, sometimes so low that the pilot 
and observer were clearly visible. From this time on 
there was so much going on that it was harder to watch 
than a three-ring circus. Queer white houses appeared 
as the transport slowly made her way along, and the land 
slipped by; funny little boats with maroon-colored sails 
drifted into view, manned by sailors wearing wooden 
sabots. Slowly the George Washington felt her way into 
the harbor of Brest, and came to anchor a mile or so out 
from land, being too large to dock. Boats of every kind 
swarmed about her — boats filled with sailors from the 
French navy, in blue, with little red powder puffs on 
their caps; English, French and American officers 
climbed up the starboard ladder; two vast captive bal- 
loons, like huge bloated sausages, floated above, towed 
now this way and now that. 

Cigarettes and coins were tossed overboard to the 
crowding little boats below, and the Americans came up 
against the French language for the first time. The day 
itself was beautiful, warm and sunny, and evening came 
with every one still on board, and the sun going down 
behind the gray hills against which the ancient buildings 
of Brest stood out. 

December 21st found the aggregation still stationary in 
the harbor and the lovely weather changed to a dull rain. 
All day long, and far into the night, the winches were at 
work, swinging up apparently inexhaustible stores of sup- 
plies from the hold aft, and packages that looked like 
Christmas presents from the forward hold. Into the 
yawning chasms of the open hatches the great rope slings 
swung, to emerge filled with bundles, bales, sacks and 
boxes of every description, while the winches squeaked 
and complained. 



38 A History of Base Hospital 32 

In the harbor was a submarine, flying the French flag, 
but alleged to have been captured from the Germans, and 
once one of the captive balloons drifted so close that it 
was easy to see the observers scrambling about. Orders 
came for the luggage of Base 32 to be ready at 4 o'clock, 
and it was gotten ready, but did not go ashore. Many of 
the outfits on board left, and there were general good- 
byes. Lights twinkled ashore, and two big searchlights 
talked to one another. 

Two more days of impatient waiting dragged by. One 
outfit after another climbed down the ladders, entered 
launches, and were borne away, but Base 32 stayed on. A 
few of the officers managed to get ashore, to reappear 
later in the day resplendent in Sam Browne belts. A flock 
of quartermasters, engineers and Ambulance Company 
No. 15 departed and were seen no more. The unloading 
of cargo went on endlessly, night and day, with a detach- 
ment of French sailors helping in the work. December 
23rd found the unit impatient and discouraged. There 
was a general lack of animation, made more pronounced 
by an outbreak of measles. Those who were not ill went 
to church on E deck. The word had been passed around, 
however, that the hospital was surely going ashore the 
following day, and their baggage was all sent out that 
afternoon. 

December 24th was another big day for Base 32, and 
they flattered themselves that it was also a big day for 
Brest, though possibly Brest didn't realize this. Some- 
how the crowd was gotten aboard the lighter Dinardaise, 
and was borne bouncingly away across the water of the 
harbor — which was farther across than it looked — while 
from the rails of the George Washington came farewell 
shouts from those who still remained aboard, an espe- 
cially popular form of good-bye being "Here's hoping 
you don't get any business!" which, after all, was fair 



The Voyage 39 

enough. Through the boats crowding about the docks 
behind the breakwater the lighter made her way, while, 
looking back at the George Washington, one realized for 
the first time the great liner's gigantic size. 

And so, sometime during the forenoon, the unit set foot 
— actually set foot — on the soil of France, while the na- 
tives gathered round to witness the arrival of this latest 
group of les Americains. They were a trifle late, but at 
that they had beaten a lot of the quartermasters, most of 
the aviators and all the stevedores ashore. 

This first closeup of La Belle France did not reveal 
her as so very belle, after all. It was muddy and wet, and 
the natives, who grouped at the end of the street leading 
from the dock, looked rather shabby, and there was a 
great prevalence of black among the dresses of the 
women. One old citizen, in a long flowing cape, made 
the unit a sweeping bow as the column advanced. 

The immediate destination was the railroad and the 
advancing hosts of the medical corps climbed hill after 
hill and numerous stairways to reach it. The station was 
found to be crowded with a variegated assortment of 
French soldiers in horizon blue, Turcos, British, and a 
few Italian soldiers, doll-like French children, old peas- 
ant women in wonderful caps of Breton lace, and a few 
other civilians. The luggage was brought to the station 
and placed under guard. Arrangements for entrainment 
and travel rations occupied a few of the officers, and the 
balance of the unit drifted around enjoying the strange- 
ness of the crowd. 

Some strolled off to the wall that flanked the open space 
across from the station, and gazed down at the city of 
Brest, set in terraces on the hills, old houses, tall and thin, 
with chimney pots, and set in walled gardens, with a sur- 
prising amount of greenery for the season, and narrow, 
twisting streets. 



40 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Finally when it became known that the train would not 
leave before evening, permission was given to leave the 
station, and most of the unit left in quest of food. They 
got it, eventually, sometimes by means of sign language, 
or, in extreme cases, by resorting to drawings. The sights 
of Brest were taken in on a marching tour through the 
city, and everywhere the procession passed traffic halted. 
It was Christmas Eve and the hospital unit put up a 
strong opposition to a French circus that was vainly en- 
deavoring to draw a crowd. 

Rising almost out of the harbor was an ancient cha- 
teau, and many of the new arrivals took advantage of the 
few loose hours before the train was due to start to investi- 
gate this structure, which dated back an inconceivably 
long way — part of one tower, we were assured, having 
been built by Julius Caesar. Included in the architectural 
curiosities of the chateau were battlements, moats and 
dungeon keeps, and one pleasing arrangement where a 
victim was dropped through a hole in the floor to land, 
several stories below, on a collection of spikes. From the 
battlements one could get a wonderful view of the 
crowded harbor, and many of the visitors took their last 
look at the George Washington, majestically at rest in 
the bay. 

Back to the chemin de fer, where on a siding waited a 
curious special train composed of an engine built along 
the general lines of a tea-kettle, but with a peculiarly 
shrill and defiant whistle, and an endless string of cars 
like dry goods boxes — but, at that, a dream of luxury 
compared with the "Hommes 40, Chevaux 8" cars that 
the less fortunate outfits traveled in. 

The roll was called again and again. Travel rations 
were distributed to each compartment. A grand scramble 
ensued while the unit got aboard. The enlisted men in 
the third-class cars, seven or eight to a compartment, and 



The Voyage 41 

the officers and nurses in the elegantly upholstered coops 
of the premiere class into which six persons and their 
luggage could be jammed. 

At five o'clock everything was ready. The engine gave 
its loudest and most defiant toot, and the unit was ofif. 
Their destination was unknown. They had no idea 
whether they would reach the end of their journey in a 
few hours or a few days. As it happened, they were on 
the road one day and the better part of two nights, and by 
that time they had discovered things about French travel 
that made the most moth-eaten American day coach look, 
in retrospect, like the private car of a railroad magnate. 

The train scuttled across France, pausing now and then 
at stations with romantic French names, where there were 
always troop trains loaded with French soldiers sitting in 
the cars, under the cars, and on the cars. At every station 
the Americans hung out of the windows, and whooped 
the glad news of their arrival to the French. Supper was 
a gladsome meal, including such delicacies as "tinned 
willie," jam, beans and bread. These edibles were piled 
indiscriminately on the floor, or in the already overloaded 
baggage racks above. There was apparently but one can 
opener to the crowd and plaintive wails of ''ou est le can 
opener?" rent the air as that priceless implement made 
its way up and down the train. Finally night fell, and 
the crusaders went to sleep as best they could with their 
feet in the groceries. 

As for Christmas day, Bishop Francis, whose duties 
included that of mail censor, later made the lament that 
in June the members of the unit were still eating their 
Christmas dinner on the train, but it was an unusual sort 
of Christmas, let any one deny it who dares, and the letter 
writers were to be excused. Christmas day then dawned 
about seven o'clock with the train scuttling across sunny 
France in a snowstorm. All on board had been up for 



42 A History of Base Hospital 32 

hours, for getting up was a simple operation consisting 
principally of disentangling one's self from the canned 
goods. Breakfast was served from cans, after more fren- 
zied paging of the can opener, and by some miracle hot 
coffee was obtained somewhere along the route. French 
oranges, small and sour, added the one festive note to 
Christmas dinner. 

All would agree that they spent several years on board 
that train that merry Christmas day. All concerned had 
reached such a state of dishevelment that they resembled 
Coxey's army, and rumors were to the efifect that high 
wassail was being held in the awful coaches occupied by 
the enlisted men, who were endeavoring to forget their 
misery in vin rouge. Late in the afternoon the train 
passed through Troyes, a large French town, where it 
made the most protracted stop of the trip, and some time 
at night it went through Chaumont, General Pershing's 
headquarters. 

About three o'clock on the morning of December 26th 
the train stopped at an unimposing little station, and its 
sleepy and unsightly occupants were routed from their 
luxurious slumbers. It was not until then that the desti- 
nation became generally known. The first little group 
ofif the train plodded through the snow, up to the station, 
and straining their eyes finally made out the letters of the 
station sign, "C-O-N-T-R-E-X-E-V-I-L-L-E." No one 
knew where Contrexeville was. No one cared. Joyfully 
all concerned would have detrained directly back of the 
German lines to have escaped from the train. The snow 
was two feet deep, and it was cold with the piercing 
dampness that only France seems able to achieve. 

Darkness often shrouds a town with an element of mys- 
tery to an arriving stranger. Contrexeville seemed queer 
that first night. The impression, as the unit marched 
wearily through the streets, was one of surprise. The 



The Voyage 43 

handsome buildings, the dark evergreens against the snow 
in the park, the stately columns of the coUonade and the 
broad streets all struck notes of incongruity. Obviously 
a small town, but how unlike the ordinary French village! 
Weary as the newcomers were, they could not help but 
wonder what manner of place they were in. 

French civilians guided the unit to their quarters, the 
officers to the Hotel Souveraine, the nurses to the Hotel 
Continental, and the enlisted men to their less imposing 
quarters, later designated as the "Glass House" and the 
"Old Theatre." Cots had been prepared, and a steaming 
hot drink, alleged to be coffee, was welcomed for its 
warmth. The quarters were cold and damp, but a feeling 
of relief was general. The end of the journey was reached. 
It was no longer necessary to sleep in layers as it had been 
on the train and one might, with the help of Providence, 
get a bath sometime in the future. 



IV 

CONTREXEVILLE 

CONTREXEVILLE is located in the Department 
of Vosges, about 370 kilometers east and a little 
south of Paris, on the railway that connects Nancy and 
Langres. It lies at an altitude of 1,100 feet, in a narrow 
sheltered basin, completely surrounded by the foothills 
of the Vosges Mountains. Neufchateau, the only neigh- 
boring town of any importance, is about twenty nine kilo- 
meters to the north. 

Celebrated for more than a century because of the 
medicinal and therapeutic qualities of its numerous 
springs, Contrexeville has for years been a popular water- 
ing place. As early as 1760 a certain Dr. Bagard, physi- 
cian to King Stanislas of Lorraine, discovered the un- 
usual properties of the Source de Pavilion and brought 
them into public notice. Subsequently chemical analysis 
of its waters revealed a variety and combination of min- 
erals that drew the attention of the medical profession of 
all parts of France. The reputation of Contrexeville as a 
watering place was established. Courses of treatment 
were recommended and prescribed, and the waters of 
the Source de Pavilion were bottled and shipped exten- 
sively. During the years just prior to the war Contrexe- 
ville counted many people of fame and nobility among 
its summer guests. 

Contrexeville, because of its climate, is essentially a 
summer resort, and its population, largely transient, is of 
a class that demands attractive lodgings and modern con- 
veniences. Because of this, Contrexeville differes greatly 
from the majority of small French towns. Among other 
things it boasts of concrete sidewalks, an electric light 

44 




5 O 

5 < 

i « 

c W 



CONTREXEVILLE 



45 



plant, and a general sewerage system. Three beautiful 
parks, several tennis courts, bowling greens, and the Ca- 
sino ofifer recreation and diversion. The River Vair, a 
small stream that runs through the town submerged under 
a concrete promenade, furnishes the water supply for the 
bathhouse of the Societe des Eaux. This building, known 
popularly as the Colonnade, is located in the most central 
of the three parks, and is probably the handsomest struc- 
ture in Contrexeville. With its red tile roof and its long 
line of stately blue and cream columns, it resembles some 
magnificent exposition building more than anything else. 
The bathhouse proper, which occupies a circular struc- 
ture opening ofif the center of the Colonnade, is equipped 
with dozens of the most modern blue and white tiled 
bathrooms, spacious dressing rooms, showers, and a num- 
ber of other rooms for X-ray and special medical treat- 
ment. The inner side of the Colonnade furnishes space for 
a long row of small shops, while toward the center, jut- 
ting out from the open side, a magnificent dome houses 
the Source de Pavilion. Across from the Colonnade, on 
the other side of the park, are the Hotel de I'Establiss- 
ment, an ancient and rather dilapidated structure, and 
the Casino, a beautiful and thoroughly modern building 
enclosing a charming theater, gaming rooms, and hand- 
some salons. Outside the park, scattered through the en- 
tire town, are a number of large hotels and dozens of 
villas and smaller hostelries. Of these the Cosmopolitain- 
Palace is the largest and most important, an imposing 
five-story building set on the hill beyond the park, and 
commanding a view of the country for miles around. 

After the war began it was soon apparent that Con- 
trexeville possessed peculiar advantages as a site for a 
military hospital. Located on an important railway in 
the advance section of operations, approximately fifty 
miles behind the lines, its selection as a location for a base 



46 A History of Base Hospital 32 

hospital was a natural one. A number of the larger build- 
ings were admirably adapted for hospital purposes, and 
long before the advent of America in the war these had 
been requisitioned by the French Government and turned 
over to the French Service de Sante and used as hospitals. 
Following the arrival of the earlier American troops, 
these buildings, together with others similarly requisi- 
tioned, were sublet to the United States Army, and were 
evacuated by the French late in 1917. The buildings 
which were to be used as hospitals were : Cosmopolitain- 
Palace, Hotel Royal, Hotel de la Providence, Hotel de 
la Providence Annex, Hotel de Paris, Hotel Continental, 
La Souveraine, Hotel de I'Etablissment, Hotel Harmand, 
Hotel Martin Felix, Hotel Thiery, Hotel Martin Aine, 
and the Casino. 

Of these the Cosmopolitain-Palace, together with the 
Hotel de Paris, Hotel Royal and Hotel de la Providence 
and Annex, were grouped in close proximity in the upper 
part of town, and were divided from the others by the 
park of the Etablissement des Eaux. These buildings 
were assigned to Base Hospital 32. The second group of 
approximately the same bed capacity, was located within 
and below the park, and was reserved for Base Hospital 
31, a unit organized in Youngstown, Ohio, under com- 
mand of Major A. E. Schlanser, which was scheduled to 
arrive in Contrexeville about January ist. 

In addition to the five hospital buildings assigned to 32 
the following buildings were leased for other purposes: 
Hotel Moderne Annex for headquarters officers, Cosmo- 
politain-Palace Garage for garage. Hotel de Paris Annex 
for officers' quarters, the Jean Cretaux Garage for a ware- 
house, and a glass-enclosed sun porch built against one 
side of the Hotel Moderne, together with an old theater 
on the hill back of it, for enlisted men's quarters. Other 
enlisted men, principally non-commissioned officers, were 



CONTREXEVILLE 47 

quartered on the third floor of the Moderne Annex, and 
the second story of the Cosmopolitain Garage. For the 
first few weeks in Contrexeville the nurses were quartered 
in the Cosmopolitain, but later, when that building was 
being rapidly prepared for hospital purposes, the Hotel 
Moderne was leased, and served as nurses' quarters for 
both Base Hospitals 31 and 32. Shortly after the arrival 
of Base Hospital 31 the Paris Annex was turned over to 
their officers, and the officers of Base Hospital 32 moved 
into the Villa Plaisance and the adjoining Villa Sala- 
bury. 

Preparations for the reception of Base Hospital 32 on 
the night of December 25th-26th had been made by Ma- 
jor East of Base Hospital 36, of Detroit. This unit, to- 
gether with Base Hospital 23, of Buffalo, was already 
stationed at Vittel, a similar, but somewhat larger summer 
resort town about five kilom.eters north of Contrexeville. 
Temporary quarters had been arranged for and equipped 
with iron cots and blankets taken over from the French. 

The first few days at Contrexeville were spent in ar- 
ranging more comfortable personnel quarters and provid- 
ing for the mess. Offices were established temporarily in 
the Hotel Continental, and the Continental kitchens and 
dining rooms were used until some time after the arrival 
of Base Hospital 31. French rations were provided pend- 
ing arrangements with the American Quartermaster 
Corps. 

A general plan for the hospital organization, to con- 
form with the buildings provided, was developed by Ma- 
jors Clark and Beery, but the actual work of cleaning and 
preparing these buildings for occupancy was delayed by 
the non-arrival of equipment, and also by the fact that 
some of the buildings were not yet completely evacuated 
by the French. The bed capacity, which had hitherto 
always been figured as 500, was increased by the chief 



48 A History of Base Hospital 32 

surgeon's office to 1,250, and notice was given that the 
equipment for the additional 750 beds would follow the 
shipment of the original 500. In the meantime leases and 
etat de lieux were signed, and the peculiar intricacies of 
the French system of renting were explained. In almost 
all of the buildings certain rooms had been reserved and 
sealed by the owners for the storage of furniture, and in 
the case of the Cosmopolitain an additional lease had to 
be efifected to cover the use of the miniature elevator 
which occasionally could be got to run. The cellars of 
the Cosmopolitain, with the exception of the kitchens, 
were also reserved and sealed, and were rumored to con- 
tain fabulous quantities of champagne and ancient wines. 

A survey of the five hospital buildings showed that 
they were all wired for electricity and possessed inde- 
pendent water supplies. Most of the buildings were 
equipped with bathrooms, and the plumbing facilities, as 
compared with most French hotels, were generally good. 
All of the buildings had septic tanks draining into tile 
pipes in the bed of the River Vair. 

It was expected that the work of the hospital would be 
to a large degree surgical, and the Cosmopolitain, on ac- 
count of its size, and because its spacious, well-lighted 
salons were admirably adapted for surgeries, was selected 
as the main surgical hospital. The Cosmopolitain was a 
six-story structure faced with stucco and trimmed with 
sandstone. Owing to the slope on which the hotel was 
constructed, the first floor opening on to a spacious lobby, 
became the basement farther back, and housed the kitchen 
and a small central heating plant. This heating plant, 
although probably sufficient for the summer season dur- 
ing which the hotel operated, was entirely inadequate for 
winter weather, and was supplemented by small heating 
stoves. On the second floor were the salons and dining 
rooms, which were to be converted into surgeries, dress- 



^\5 



Buildings 
Occupied E>7 

Base Hospital Buildings 
Ko.32.. Occupied By 

H Base Hospital 

No.3r 



'% 



Plan of the. 

Village of Contre^ville 

VosGES France 

Showing Location. Of Buildings 
Occupied By Base Hospitals 31 ~^2, 

Feb/20*-^ I^IS 



^^-y 



^> 



'^U 



/; 



\ 



.Q, 



<?/. 



i^c/. 



^> 










^J 



^e 



H. C o smop ol it an. 



q: 



"A 



Co 



^A.' 



Utt 



^Uq 



H.MartinFelix. 






— "4e""Mi 



-H-T-Hvai,y,, 



Prcibyte 



' Royal. 



Post 



Aimex-H-dePairl^ 



□ 



_ H.dela 
Providence I 



'Y H VEtahhssement.. 
The CoLLON*Qt 






rEtcLblisseinent 
Hydromineral 



\ \ 



Ea.i.r _ Ruisaeau. 



gkiuveralnej 
-i__r 



7U 



North. 



<""> CO 



li.Iiarmand 



iCc^^ 



..o^^-'' 



,1." 



Vl« 



fS Sfl 



jUUilLLLL 



ToUe- 



UJ £ 



tr 



O 



o O.S (d 



-d EE 



a 



'L 



CONTREXEVILLE 



49 



ing rooms and the larger wards. The rooms off the cor- 
ridors leading to the rear of the building on this floor 
were assigned to the various specialists on the stafif, and 
the dental rooms and pharmacy were also located here. 
The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors were almost iden- 
tical in plan, each containing approximately twenty-five 
bedrooms of varying size, the majority of them with con- 
necting doors, and a few with baths. The capacity of the 
Cosmopolitain for hospital purposes was estimated at 500 
beds, and it was decided to use practically all of the orig- 
inal Red Cross equipment to furnish this building, and 
to depend upon the medical supply depots for additional 
equipment for the others. 

The remaining four buildings, the Paris, Providence, 
Providence Annex and the Royal, were located about two 
blocks down the hill from the Cosmopolitain, and were 
grouped in close proximity on, and near, the corners of 
two intersecting streets. Of these buildings the Provi- 
dence was the largest, with an estimated bed capacity of 
225. Ancient, and in poor repair, this building was a 
four-story V-shaped structure with a long wing extending 
at right angles on either side of the entrance. Diagonally 
across the street from the Providence, on the opposite 
corner, was the four-story Hotel de Paris, with a bed 
capacity of 200, and back of, and adjoining it, was a some- 
what smaller three-story building, the Providence Annex, 
accommodating about 125 beds. The Hotel Royal, a 
modern structure which was completed just before the 
war, was located directly opposite the Providence Annex. 
The Royal was a four-story building, faced with stucco, 
each floor containing fourteen or fifteen very good rooms, 
some with baths. It had never been used by the French, 
and was in excellent condition. Back of the Royal, and 
included in its lease, was a small building accommodat- 
ing some ten or twelve beds which it was planned to use 



50 A History of Base Hospital 32 

as an isolation ward for contagious cases. The normal 
bed capacity of the Royal was placed at 200. 

The first steps in organization were the official designa- 
tion of the different hospital buildings by letters and their 
division and assignment to the surgical and medical sec- 
tions. The Cosmopolitain, Hospital A, which was to be 
the principal surgical building, was to be supplemented 
by the Paris, Hospital B, an auxiliary surgical hospital 
which was designed to take care of the overflow from A 
and to handle convalescent and minor surgical cases. The 
medical section, with its headquarters offices in the Royal, 
was to comprise Hospitals C, D and E, the Providence 
Annex, Royal and Providence, respectively. The phar- 
macy supplying the medical section was to be located on 
the first floor of the Providence, together with the medi- 
cal laboratory and an auxiliary X-ray outfit. A room on 
the ground floor of the Cosmopolitain was to serve as a 
hospital supply room for all of the buildings. From here 
pharmaceutical supplies would be issued to the two phar- 
macies, and all other supplies issued direct to the individ- 
ual buildings on requisition. 

Practically all of the original equipment had preceded 
the unit to France, and, with the exception of the truck 
and the three ambulances, had been forwarded to the 
Medical Supply Depot at Is-sur-Tille, where it was 
stored pending the arrival of the hospital at Contrexe- 
ville. The truck and ambulances had been unloaded at 
St. Nazaire, where they were to be claimed and driven 
overland to their destination. A detail in charge of Ser- 
geant George Swaim was assigned to this task, and the 
trip, which was a thrilling one, through a strange country 
over ice-covered mountain roads, took the better part of 
a week. Much of the driving was done at night without 
lights, and the roads were often obliterated by their deep 
covering of snow. 



CONTREXEVILLE 5 1 

The early days of January were days of busy prepara- 
tion. By this time the first few cars of original equipment 
had begun to arrive, and night and day shifts, under the 
direction of Lieutenant Funkhouser, were organized to 
expedite the unloading. Details and trucks from Base 
Flospital 31 assisted in this work. The headquarters of- 
fices, which had been temporarily established in the Hotel 
Continental, moved into their permanent location on the 
second floor of the Moderne Annex, and the enlisted 
men's mess, which had been served jointly by Base Hos- 
pitals 31 and 32 in the Continental dining room, sepa- 
rated and operated independently. Messes for 32's men 
were established at the Cosmopolitain and Providence, 
and for the officers' and nurses in their respective quarters. 

It was evident that the first task that faced the unit was 
to clean up the buildings and fit them for occupancy. 
Many of the hotels, especially those that had been occu- 
pied by the French, were turned over to the unit in an 
extremely unsanitary condition. There was a natural ac- 
cumulation of refuse, floors were to be scrubbed, windows 
and woodwork washed — in fact a general housecleaning 
was necessary before furniture and equipment could be 
moved in. In addition to this there was a considerable 
amiount of plumbing, electrical and carpenter work essen- 
tial to fit the buildings for hospitals. The surgeries, labo- 
ratories and X-ray rooms required special lighting, and 
wiring for electrical apparatus. Sterilizing equipment 
was to be installed, and additional sinks and drains were 
required in some of the kitchens. Partitions had to be 
built and benches and tables constructed. The hospital 
was extremely fortunate in having among the enlisted 
personnel men who were ably qualified to accomplish this 
important work. Notable among these were McElwayne, 
Stuvel and Holloran in the plumbing; Gaither, Sertell 
and Iverson, carpentering; Drake and Cook, general elec- 



52 A History of Base Hospital 32 

trical work, and Magee, whose installation of the X-ray 
equipment elicited praise from many X-ray technicians 
in both the American and French armies. The material 
required for all these important improvements was pur- 
chased under the direction of Lieutenant Bushey on motor 
trips to Nancy, Epinal and Neufchateau. 

The frequent transfers and changes in personnel which 
were destined to mark the history of the unit during their 
entire period of service had already begun. On December 
29, 1917, the following nurses, together with a small de- 
tail of enlisted men, were transferred to Base Hospital 15 
on detached service for several weeks' temporary duty: 
Olga N. Anderson, Martha R. Berger, Nellie M. Birch, 
Bertha E. Boyles, Nellie B. Davis, Maud F. Essig, Susan 
Genolin, Mary B. Houser, Mary Kennedy, Mary F. 
Kochman, Mary Mangan, Margaret McCoppin, Mary 
Ruth McBee, Estelle F. Miller, Edna Mowrer, Mary E. 
Mullen, Mayme O'Connell, Florine Ostenzi, Elsie Pea- 
cock, Lena L. Payne, Evelyn Potter, Amy A. Prosser, 
Nellie Rock, Eleanor C. Ryan, Ida A. Scholer, Golda F. 
Smith, Ruth G. Totten, Alys Weitendorf and Ruth 
Wright. Early in January Father Emmanuel Bouter was 
assigned to the unit as official interpreter, and Benjamin 
Cotharin, Albert Daugherty, Theodore Plumb, Whitney 
Porter, Charles Stough, Charles Selch and Albert Bartle, 
of the enlisted personnel, all of whom had been removed 
from the boat with measles upon its arrival and trans- 
ferred to the U. S. Naval Hospital at Brest, were returned 
to active duty with the organization. 

It was about this time, too, that the unit learned the sad 
news of the death of May Berry, one of 32's nurses, who 
was taken seriously ill on the voyage over, and who died 
of pneumonia, December 30, 1917, at the United States 
Naval Base Hospital No. i at Brest. Miss Berry is said 
to have been the first American nurse to die on foreign 
soil during the war. 




ENTRANCE TO THE CLASS IloiSK 




INTERIOR, THE CiLASS HOUSE 



CONTREXEVILLE 53 

By the middle of January all of the hospital buildings 
with the exception of the Royal, which was still in the 
process of leasing, had been cleaned, washed and 
scrubbed and the work of furnishing and equipping was 
well under way. Cars were unloaded and the contents 
hauled to the medical supply warehouse, where the crates 
and cases were unpacked and the contents distributed to 
the various buildings. Part of the equipment containing 
the additional 750 beds, together with their complement 
of mattresses, pillows, sheets and blankets, had arrived 
and was being installed in Hospitals B, C and E. 

These beds were a narrow, low French type, with metal 
slat springs, and compared unfavorably with the white 
enamel hospital beds of the original equipment, which 
were being set up in Hospital A. It might be mentioned 
here that Hospital A, with its original Red Cross equip- 
ment for 500 beds, became, when it was ready for service 
a few weeks later, one of the best and most perfectly 
equipped surgical hospitals in the A. E. F. 

The first official inspection of Base Hospital 32 was 
made on January 17, 1918, when Colonels Stark and 
Reno and Lieutenant-Colonel Fife of the chief surgeon's 
office arrived in Contrexeville to inspect the progress the 
hospital was making in equipping and preparing the 
buildings for service. It was rumored at this time that 
the hospital might be pressed into service at an early date, 
and the rush of preparations was stimulated to an even 
greater degree. In order to take care of any emergency 
the staff was organized tentatively as follows : 

Major H. R. Beery, Commanding Officer. 
Major E. D. Clark, Director. 
Major C. B. McCulloch, Adjutant. 
Captain Charles D. Humes, Registrar. 
Lieutenant F. P. Bushey, Quartermaster. 



54 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Surgical Service. 
Major E. D. Clark, Chief. 

Hospital A — 

Major C. B. McCulloch, Officer in Charge. 
Captain Lafayette Page, ear, nose and throat. 
Captain H. F. Byrnes, opthahnologist. 
Captain Eugene B. Mumford, orthopedist. 
Lieutenant R. C. Beeler, roentgenologist. 
Lieutenant J. W. Scherer, dentist. 
Lieutenant J. V. Sparks, dentist. 

Hospital B — 

Captain Alois B. Graham, Officer in Charge. 

Medical Service, 

Major Bernays Kennedy, Chief. 

Hospital C — 

Lieutenant Joseph W. Ricketts, Officer in Charge. 

Hospital D — 

Lieutenant Robert M. Moore, Officer in Charge. 

Hospital E — 

Lieutenant Leslie H. Maxwell, Officer in Charge. 

The nursing personnel was also organized and tenta- 
tive assignments made to the different sections. 

The w^eather, which had hitherto been extremely cold 
and disagreeable, turned suddenly warm. The snow dis- 
appeared, revealing hillsides surprisingly green, and for 
three weeks the hospital enjoyed a welcome succession of 
warm, sunny days. With all the rush of preparations and 
organization work, sufficient leisure time was found for 
occasional long walks into the surrounding country and 
exploration trips into quaint little neighboring towns. 
Early in January some one discovered the Ferme des 
Eveques — a charming little villa, nestling among the 
wood-covered hills a short distance out from town. Here 
a nine-hole golf course had once attracted throngs of 




OFFICERS' QUARTERS, RUE SALABERY 




THE PARK FROM THE NORTH ENTRANCE 



CONTREXEVILLE 55 

visitors from Contrexeville. The golf course now had 
been abandoned to the sheep, but the villa itself, with its 
excellent cuisine and well-stocked cellars, had lost none 
of its charm, and became a popular objective for after- 
noon walks and Sunday supper parties. Vittel, similar to 
Contrexeville in many respects, and larger, also attracted 
many visitors. Outrancourt, Suriauville, Ligneville, 
Bulgneville and Dombrot — all quaint little villages, typi- 
cally French — afforded a variety of interesting walks. 

On January 24th the unit received its first large mail 
from the states, and on January 28th the first social event 
to break the strenuous rush of preparation occurred at 
Vittel when the officers of Base Hospital 23 gave a dance 
to which the officers of the other three hospitals of the 
center were invited. 

By the first of February, although the work of furnish- 
ing and equipping the buildings was far from complete. 
Base Hospital 32 was nevertheless in a condition for 
emergency service if the necessity arose. The unit at this 
time was deprived of the leadership of Major Beery, 
whose health failed under the strain of all this early 
work, and who was transferred to Hospital A, where it 
was hoped a complete rest might restore him to active 
duty. Subsequently Major Beery was relieved from duty 
with Base Hospital 32 and sent to Base Hospital No. 8, 
and from here he was transferred to the United States on 
March i. During Major Beery's illness and after his 
transfer Major Clark acted as commanding officer, and 
it was under his leadership that the buildings were pre- 
pared and the unit organized for active duty. 

The month of February was devoted to the final details 
of preparation. Additional supplies were requisitioned 
and received from the medical supply depots and from 
the Red Cross warehouse at Neufchateau. Authority was 
granted to take over any necessary items of equipment 



56 A History of Base Hospital 32 

from the French Service de Sante, and numerous articles 
of hospital furniture, surgical and pharmaceutical sup- 
plies were acquired in this manner. Under the direction 
of Sergeant Callis the hospital kitchens were equipped 
and organized. Negotiations were started by Lieutenant 
Bushey for the leasing of the power plant, which had 
heretofore been under municipal control. Telephones 
were installed by the United States Signal Corps and ar- 
rangements were made with the mayor of Contrexeville 
for the use of two small fire pumps of doubtful efficiency, 
a hundred feet or so of hose, and the few ladders which 
comprised the town's fire equipment. 

Meanwhile other events of importance were transpir- 
ing. The Y. M. C. A. and the American Red Cross — two 
organizations that were destined to play an important 
part in the comfort and welfare of the hospital and its 
patients — made their advent in Contrexeville. The Y. M. 
C. A. "hut," which was located in the "Salle Chaude" in 
the center of the Colonnade, opened on February 8th with 
a house-warming party and a band concert. Besides the 
canteen, which offered a variety of cigarettes, candy and 
odds and ends, the hut was equipped with writing tables, 
pool and billiard tables and a piano. The Y. M. C. A. 
activities in Contrexeville were in charge of Mr. Percy 
McFeely. Additional attractions and entertainments were 
added from time to time, and the "Y hut" became a popu- 
lar loafing place during leisure hours. 

The first representative of the American Red Cross to 
arrive at Contrexeville was Captain Laurence E. Hitch- 
cock of Cleveland, Ohio. The work of the Red Cross 
forms too important a part of the history of Base Hospital 
32 to be discussed here, and a separate chapter, later in 
the book, is devoted to the vast scope and diversity of its 
activities. Suffice it to say, for the present, that the Red 



CONTREXEVILLE 57 

Cross work in Contrexeville reached almost 20,000 Amer- 
ican soldiers — and reached them in a dozen different 
ways. Nothing that could possibly promote the comfort 
or welfare of the patients or personnel was left undone. 
To Captain Hitchcock belongs the credit for laying the 
foundation for this great work and for outlining many of 
the important plans which were so ably executed by Cap- 
tain William H. Thompson, who succeeded him in April. 

The end of February found the hospital ready for serv- 
ice. In the two months that elapsed since the hospital's 
arrival an almost incredible amount of work had been 
done. Dirty, unsanitary hotels had been transformed into 
clean, shining hospitals. More than fifty carloads of sup- 
plies and equipment had been unloaded and installed. 
One thousand beds were standing, made up ready to re- 
ceive patients. Kitchens, laboratories, pharmacies, sur- 
geries, dressing rooms and the X-ray and special depart- 
ments were equipped, organized and ready for service. 
Contrexeville itself had changed in appearance. Streets 
had been cleaned, truckloads of accumulated refuse 
around the various buildings had been hauled away and 
the grounds had been thoroughly policed. 

In the world outside Contrexeville big things were 
happening. American troops were pouring into France 
in increasing numbers. Rumors of the impending spring 
offensive multiplied daily. On both sides of the lines 
divisions were shifted nervously from one place to an- 
other, and on every sector raids and minor actions fore- 
told the mightier operations that were soon to follow. 



V 

Hospital Unit R 

IT HAS been previously noted that the capacity of Base 
Hospital 32 had been increased, shortly after their ar- 
rival at Contrexeville, from 500 to 1,250 beds. To take 
care of this expansion, additional equipment had been 
received and installed, but there had been no increase in 
the personnel. 

Early in March information was received from the 
chief surgeon's office indicating that additional personnel 
— officers, nurses and enlisted men — would be assigned to 
the hospital at an early date, and on March 13th this 
information was confirmed by the arrival of Hospital 
Unit R. 

Hospital Unit R, a southeastern Iowa organization 
which upon its arrival in France for active duty became 
a part of Base Hospital No. 32, traces its "ancestry" back 
to the day the United States declared war upon Germany. 

In Fairfield, Iowa, a busy little city of 7,500 persons, 
lived Dr. J. Fred Clarke. He had served in the Spanish- 
American War during the entire period of hostilities and 
while the occupation of Cuba was in progress. In the 
days of '98 he had been associated with Colonel Jeflferson 
R. Kean, who on April 6, 1917, was in charge of military 
hospitalization work for the government. The declara- 
tion of war was adopted by the congress of the United 
States in time for all the evening papers of the country to 
carry the story on that day. 

That night a telegram, signed by J. Fred Clarke went 
from Fairfield to Colonel Kean at Washington. It said, 
"What can I do to help our cause?" The next day the 
answer came, giving the fragmentary outline upon which 

S8 



Hospital Unit R 59 

hospital units were to be formed all over the country as a 
part of the great plan the medical department of the army 
stood ready to work out and put into operation. Dr. 
Clarke wasted no time. Within a few days he had con- 
sulted other doctors in his community, had talked the 
matter over with a few of the nurses he knew stood ready 
to "do their bit" and more, and had checked over a tenta- 
tive list of enlisted men. Hospital Unit R was under way. 

In every county seat in that section of Iowa new Red 
Cross chapters were springing up like the proverbial 
mushrooms over night and inactive organizations were 
instantly alive to the situation. They rallied, at once, to 
Dr. Clarke's organization and set about assisting it. Let- 
ters of inquiry began pouring into his office at Fairfield, 
asking what could be done to help him. In a little while, 
out of the chaotic confusion of the first few weeks, the 
plans began to take some sort of tangible form. 

The unit, recruited for service with the United States 
forces at home or abroad, was to consist of twelve doctors, 
commissioned officers in the medical corps of the army, 
twenty-one nurses and fifty enlisted men. It was under 
the direction of the American Red Cross in the beginning, 
and remained so for several months. First enrollments 
were under Red Cross regulations. 

While smaller in population than many of the other 
towns and cities of the ten or a dozen southeastern Iowa 
counties which fell into line behind the unit, Fairfield 
remained its home and its center. Here all the adminis- 
trative work was handled by Dr. Clarke. Far into the 
night the director of the unit pored over his records, 
studied his applications, sifted and sorted, adjusted and 
checked, always in an eflfort to get the best. 

Red Cross chapters in all the towns in that section of 
the state went to work with a zest making supplies for the 
unit. Their women worked day and night, rolling miles 



6o A History of Base Hospital 32 

and miles of bandages, cutting, stitching and packing 
hundreds of dozens of pairs of pajamas, bed socks, towels, 
caps, gowns, masks and other hospital equipment. Money 
poured into the treasuries and generous checks were sent, 
with a "do your best for our boys with it," to Fairfield. 

The purchase of equipment began, and as the summer 
wore on additional warehouse room had to be secured in 
Fairfield to hold the generous contributions of these people 
of southeastern Iowa. An X-ray machine came from Bur- 
lington, a truck from Mt. Pleasant, Ottumwa sent $10,000 
in cash and box after box of supplies. Centerville, Oska- 
loosa, Keokuk, Washington, Bloomfield, all the centers of 
population in that section of the state were represented in 
the vast array of equipment with which the unit was fur- 
nished during the summer and early autumn. With the 
cash contributions which continued to pour into the Fair- 
field headquarters during this period, surgical instru- 
ments, operating tables, beds, cots, kitchen supplies, 
blankets and the thousand and one other things which go 
to equip a hospital were purchased. Dr. Clarke super- 
vised all this work. F. C. Morgan of Centerville, Iowa, 
was the purchasing agent for the unit, and Frank Rick- 
sher, Fairfield banker, was the organization's bursar. 

"But, when do we go?" began to be the cry around that 
part of the country. 

Dr. Clarke, who was now Major Clarke of the Medical 
Reserve Corps, had chosen his fifty enlisted men, and they 
had been sworn into service as members of the Enlisted 
Medical Reserve Corps on August 8th, 9th and loth. 
Miss Amy Beers, superintendent of the Jefferson County 
Hospital at Fairfield, which served as the parent organi- 
zation for the unit, and who had been chosen as chief 
nurse, was a member of the Army Nurse Corps, and was 
getting her personnel lined up. Some of the women had 
already been called into active service in southern canton- 



illl ^ 



w 




THE GARAGE GANG AND THEIR MENAGERIE 




THE OLD THEATRE 



Hospital Unit R 6i 

ments of the United States. Major Clarke had chosen his 
twelve officers and they had all received their commis- 
sions. There were six captains and five lieutenants. The 
organization had been officially designated by the War 
Department as Hospital Unit R, and was one of the two 
such units Iowa maintained during the war, the other 
being Hospital Unit K from Council Blufifs, with 
Colonel Donald MacCray in command. 

Then followed a long period of waiting and restless- 
ness and rumor. Every week carried a new story or a 
fresh version of an old one. The men began to seek trans- 
fers into other groups which seemed to have a better 
chance to "get across." About December ist came word 
that the unit probably would not be called out before 
spring. Everybody settled down for a "long, hard winter." 

Then, like the much-prated bolt out of a clear sky, 
came the orders for Hospital Unit R to proceed to Fort 
McPherson, Georgia, for training and equipment pre- 
paratory for embarkation overseas. 

That was on December 1 1, 1917. By noon the next day 
the men were on duty at the Fairfield Iowa National 
Guard armory, where they were quartered until Decem- 
ber 15th. On that night at 9 o'clock the enlisted men and 
the officers left for Georgia, arriving three days later. 
The nurses were not called into service until the follow- 
ing month. 

At Fort McPherson, on the outskirts of Atlanta, the 
Iowa boys found themselves to be a part of many such 
groups from all over the country. They were quartered 
in the same barracks and had a joint mess hall with Hos- 
pital Unit B, from Yonkers, N. Y. Across the street was 
Unit G, from Syracuse, and Unit H, from Fordham, 
New York City. Close by were Unit I, from Anderson, 
Ind.; Unit C, from Charlotte, N. C. ; Unit W, from 
Springfield, 111.; Unit S, from Spokane, Wash., and Base 



62 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Hospital No. 26, from the famous Mayo establishment at 
Rochester, Minn., and so on they went up and down every 
street in that section of the reserve. 

Long, cloudless days were spent on the McPherson 
drill fields and parade grounds. Still longer nights were 
spent in the rickety wooden barracks trying to keep warm 
under a couple of cotton blankets, while the wind whis- 
tled through the pine trees. 

The boys thought they knew Dame Rumor pretty well 
before they left Iowa, but they soon found out that they 
had only a mere passing acquaintance with the lady. 
They never knew her until they reached Georgia. Six 
times, from January ist until February 4th, they were 
leaving. Once they had the equipment loaded on the 
train, and twice it was on the trucks on the way to the 
station. On February 4th, at noon, the unit did pull out 
for Camp Merritt, New Jersey. 

A few changes in the personnel took place at Fort 
McPherson. Captain John R. Walker, of Fort Madison, 
Iowa, who was the unit's adjutant, was disqualified for 
overseas service. He later became camp surgeon at Camp 
Pike, Arkansas. His place was taken on the unit roster 
by his brother, Captain Ben S. Walker of Corydon, Iowa, 
who was in training at Fort Riley, Kan., when called to 
Atlanta. Henry F. McCuUough of Chariton, Iowa, an 
enlisted man, had applied for a transfer to the air service 
before the unit was called into active service and received 
his orders to proceed to Rantoul, 111., soon after the or- 
ganization reached Georgia. His place was taken by 
Joseph A. DufTy, who came to Atlanta from Kansas City. 

While the officers and enlisted men were preparing to 
leave Fort McPherson, the nurses had been called from 
their homes in various parts of Iowa and from the south- 
ern camps where they were in service to Governor's 
Island, New York. There they were trained and 



Hospital Unit R 63 

equipped and joined the remainder of the unit in New 
York. 

Arriving at Camp Merritt on the morning of February 
7th, the stay there was devoted to the final stages of equip- 
ment for overseas service and short drills and hikes. 

On the morning of Saturday, February 16, 19 18, the 
officers and men marched out of Camp Merritt, through 
a heavy snow, at 3 130 a. m., and boarded a train at Tena- 
fly, N. J., for New York. On the Cunard docks in that 
city they were joined by the nurses, and all went aboard 
H. M. S. Carmania. At 4 o'clock that afternoon, in a 
hard, driving rain, the big gray liner stole out to Ambrose 
Channel Lightship, where she lay until midnight, then 
turned her nose north, and Hospital Unit R was of¥ on 
the great adventure. 

The next morning, Sunday, with a brilliant blue sky 
and a reflecting ocean like a mill pond, they were heading 
up the east coast of the United States for Halifax. Arriv- 
ing there the next day, the ship anchored a mile out in the 
inner basin. Although it was twelve to fifteen degrees 
below zero all the time, the lowans used to stand for many 
minutes on deck at night to see the beautiful harbor, 
bathed in a full moon's light and touched by the glow of 
the ever-marvelous northern rays. 

On Thursday, February 21st, early in the morning, 
unusual activity was noticed. Before noon, two, four, six 
and then seven boats, some battleship gray like the Car- 
mania, others zebra-coated in their many colors of camou- 
flage, poked their bows around the bluff and slid in along- 
side the Carmania. The stage seemed set. Everybody 
was on his toes. But there seemed to be a feeling of wait- 
ing; for the chief actor, perhaps. Then he appeared — a 
sleek, swift, sure-looking cruiser with the silky folds of 
Old Glory flapping in the sunlight from the stern. Three 
in a row, and three across, the ships took their places. 



64 A History of Base Hospital 32 

With the Stars and Stripes as their guide, the convoy 
moved. Just as the hills of Halifax were taking their last 
dip in the winter afternoon's dusk glow the troop-laden 
ships passed the outpost cliffs and went out to sea. 

Then followed fifteen days of smooth seas and seas that 
were not so smooth. Lifeboat drills became as common 
as marmalade and tea for breakfast. Standing at attention 
for sixty-five minutes because "somebody" forgot you 
were there meant nothing at all in the lives of these young 
lowans "sailing the ocean blue" in the face of sleet and 
snow and wind and possibly submarines. 

Old Lady Rumor worked overtime on her job all the 
way over, but finally, with nothing more exciting than a 
cable breaking loose on the last night in the danger zone 
and making every one certain that the boat had been hit 
by a torpedo, the good ship Carmania tied up at the Liv- 
erpool docks at 2 a. m., on March 4th. Disembarkation 
began at 9 o'clock and was finished in time for Captain 
Herrick and the nurses to get away to France, with only 
a glimpse of England, and the remainder of the officers 
and the men to pile on to the funny little English toy cars 
and take a seven-hour jog to Southampton town. 

It rained all the way down from Liverpool. With only 
a brief stop at Sheffield for coffee the outfit arrived at 
Southampton at i o'clock in the morning. Right along- 
side the tracks lay a big boat. Everybody said, "We are 
going right across to France to-night." 

But they were all wrong. There was a Canadian officer, 
who had evidently slept all day in preparation for the 
event, standing right there to guide these "travelers" to 
their next stop. Right up through the business section of 
Southampton the trainload of troops was marched at a 
cadence which is estimated to be anything from 100 to 
500. Out into the residence district, past parks and lanes 
and drives, they stumbled over the cobblestones without 



^.r^-^^ 




RUE SALAl'.ERV, LUOKIXC. NORTH 




WAITING FOR THE MESS CALL 



Hospital Unit R 65 

a single stop to rest. The crowd began to decide they were 
marching back to Liverpool, because somebody had for- 
gotten his umbrella, or his ice cream bucket, or some 
similar army necessity. Finally, after a few hours and a 
few more miles, the column halted at the Southampton 
Commons at 4 a. m. 

Eight in a tent, plenty of blankets on the floor, but the 
sweetest words in a long time when the Tommy bellowed, 
"Now, you'se don't need to get hup huntil ten in the 
mawnun." And then, with the day, it was like stepping 
into another world. Leaving Camp Merritt wading 
through a heavy snow, facing sleet and wind and sub- 
zero weather all the way across the ocean and then this — 
perfect spring skies, daffodils nodding their yellow bon- 
nets all along the roadsides, primroses in the window 
boxes of the little, hedged-in, brick homes, holly bushes 
with their sparkling berries everywhere, lakes, winding 
paths. It was a real rest camp. 

Five days were spent there, and then on Saturday, 
March 9th, at noon, the unit marched down to the docks. 
The boat was ready this time, and at 4 o'clock that after- 
noon the trip across the channel began. At dusk every- 
body was ordered below and down they piled. Rank was 
lost in the shuffle. Bucks sat on majors' necks, and ser- 
geants paid colonels no mind at all. No one could move 
more than three inches to either side, up or down. With 
this conglomerate mess of men and baggage hiding some- 
where down in the inside, the ship stopped in the middle 
of the channel to fix a broken steam pipe. The convoying 
destroyer had to scamper back to see another boat over, 
so the disabled sister was left alone, riding at anchor, 
with a full moon pointing her out to any marauder who 
might have been swinging his periscope that way. Luck 
was with the crowd, though, and after a while the pipe 
was mended and the old boat hobbled along on its way. 



66 A History of Base Hospital 32 

The dawn of Sunday, March loth, brought the lowans 
their first glimpse of France — the harbor of Le Havre. 

The unit reached a rest camp, nestled in the rock piles 
of outer Havre, about 10 a. m., where preparations were 
made to stay for several days. At 2 o'clock, the next morn- 
ing, however, it was "Everybody out," and at 4 o'clock 
the crowd was back down in Havre climbing aboard a 
French passenger train, made up of "iii's," which never 
had any intention of starting before 9 o'clock that morn- 
ing, and which did not finally make up its mind to go until 
noon. It was a beautiful ride down through northwestern 
France that early spring afternoon. The valley of the 
Marne was reached before dark. The day closed with a 
wonderful sunset gilding the white crosses scattered over 
the fields. 

That night, near the hour of twelve, some German 
planes were flying back to their lines from Paris, where 
they had brought terror and destruction and death. To 
the north, near the suburb of Nieully, one keen-eyed Hun 
spied a train standing at the entrance switch to the station 
yards. He gauged his distance, and threw his bomb. His 
companions did the same. They missed the train, but 300 
yards ahead they smashed the station, killed several per- 
sons, and injured many others. The tracks were torn and 
twisted. Less than 200 yards to the rear of the train a 
great hole, fifty feet across and twenty feet deep, was torn 
in the earth. Windows were broken in the train, and sides 
of the cars splintered. On that train rode Hospital Unit R 
and Units G, H and B. 

With that baptism of fire the occupants of the coaches 
were ready for almost anything, but the tracks were re- 
paired and the train moved on early in the morning. 

Another day and night across the checkered fields of 
France rapidly putting on their spring dress, and then a 
turn north toward the cedar-covered hills of the Voso-es. 



Hospital Unit R 67 

At noon on Wednesday, March 13, 1918, the officers 
and men of Hospital Unit R piled off the train at Con- 
trexeville. They were met by the nurses, who had arrived 
several days previous. That afternoon the commanding 
officer reported, turning his organization over to Base 
Hospital No. 32, and from that time on the lowans were 
affiliated with the Indiana unit. 

The personnel of Hospital Unit R, when it reported 
for service with Base Hospital No. 32 at Contrexeville, 
France, on March 13, 1918, was as follows: 

Officers. 

Major James F. Clarke (commanding) .. .Fairfield, Iowa 

Captain John F. Herrick Ottumwa, Iowa 

Captain Henry A. Gray Keokuk, Iowa 

Captain Frank M. Fuller Keokuk, Iowa 

Captain Roy A. McGuire Brighton, Iowa 

Captain Lora D. James Fairfield, Iowa 

Captain Ben S. Walker Corydon, Iowa 

First Lieutenant Kenneth L. Johnston . . Oskaloosa, Iowa 
First Lieutenant Edward J. Wehman .. Burlington, Iowa 

First Lieutenant Ira N. Crowe Marengo, Iowa 

First Lieutenant Frank R. Mehler...New London, Iowa 
First Lieutenant Robert S. Reimers . . . Ft. Madison, Iowa 

Nurses. 

Amy Beers (chief nurse) Fairfield, Iowa 

Esther Albright Danville, Iowa 

Madge Baldwin Ottumwa, Iowa 

Philomena Bauer Ottumwa, Iowa 

Grace Shirley Bell Mt. Sterling, Iowa 

Dora Blank Keokuk, Iowa 

Elizabeth Connelly Gilmore City, Iowa 

Nelle Davies Ottumwa, Iowa 

Mary L. Elder Ottumwa, Iowa 

Olive K. Graber Burlington, Iowa 

Sarah Greenhalgh Des Moines, Iowa 

Mabel Lusk Ottumwa, Iowa 



68 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Margaret Henke Keokuk, Iowa 

Ethel Lessenger Council Bluffs, Iowa 

Agnes Swift Washington, Iowa 

Elsie Thompson Burlington, Iowa 

Eva Van Dyke Ottumwa, Iowa 

Grace Van Evera Route 1, Davenport, Iowa 

Bessie Whitaker Grinnell, Iowa 

Olive Whitlock Route 1, Valparaiso, Ind. 

Merle Wright Wright, Iowa 

Enlisted Men. 

Sergeant William J. McGiffin Fairfield, Iowa 

Sergeant John G. Barwise. Fairfield, Iowa 

Corporal Clarence S. Johnston Ottumwa, Iowa 

Corporal John E. Lukens Chariton, Iowa 

Roy P. Anderson Ottumwa, Iowa 

Wells B. Andrews Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 

Robert C. Anstead Salt Lake City, Utah 

Irwin W. Atwood Fairfield, Iowa 

Sylvester W. Barnett Centerville, Iowa 

Lowe F. Berger Winfield, Iowa 

Paul J, Bishop Glasgow, Iowa 

Archibald M. Cantrall Fairfield, Iowa 

Merle C. Caris Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 

Orion O. Coppock Fairfield, Iowa 

Vincent E. Diemer Des Moines, Iowa 

Claude E. Downard Fairfield, Iowa 

Joseph A. Duffy Los Angeles, Cal. 

Cornelius M. Edwards Fairfield, Iowa 

Paul O. Ferrell Liberty ville, Iowa 

Harvey E. Gaumer Fairfield, Iowa 

Warner A. Glotfelty Libertyville, Iowa 

Clifford C. Haumerson Ft. Atkinson, Wis. 

Creigh C. Heminger Donnelson, Iowa 

William L. Hobbs Ft. Madison, Iowa 

Edmund V. Hunt Fairfield, Iowa 

Brace E. Hutton Batavia, Iowa 

Paul B. Jericho Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 

William A. Johnson Birmingham, Iowa 




GROUP AT THE GLASS HOUSE 




OFF DETAIL 



Hospital Unit R 69 

Charles S. Lamson Fairfield, Iowa 

Milton F. Larimore Russell, Iowa 

John C. Larmore Hedrick, Iowa 

Ellwood Lindbom Fairfield, Iowa 

Clarence M. McCarty Ottumwa, Iowa 

Bruce A. Mellis Ottumwa, Iowa 

Fred N. Newkirk Ft. Madison, Iowa 

Joe C. Norris Birmingham, Iowa 

Sherman H. Oatman Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 

Ralph C. Parrott Fairfield, Iowa 

Earl D. Power Fairfield, Iowa 

Warren K. Rogers Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 

Curtis G. Schillerstrom Fairfield, Iowa 

Calvin L. Scovel Fairfield, low^a 

Harold C. Self Monona, Iowa 

Berl C. Shearer Winfield, Iowa 

Paul G. Spainhour Spartansburg, N. C. 

Roy L. Walgren Sundance, Wyo. 

Stanley S. Watts Birmingham, Iowa 

Afton J. Wesley Wapello, Iowa 

Dan L. Winter Middletown, Iowa 

Guy A. Woellhaf Fairfield, Iowa 



VI 
Spring, 191 8 

EARLY in March, prior to the arrival of Unit R, 
Major H. H. Van Kirk, M. C, U. S. A., was as- 
signed to Base Hospital 32 as commanding officer, and 
on March 6, 1918, arrived in Contrexeville and assumed 
command. Major Van Kirk was a regular army officer of 
the old school and a rigid disciplinarian. Three days 
after his arrival he held a memorable inspection of the 
unit, followed by drill in the Esplanade and a long hike 
with field equipment. From that time on the entire outfit 
was on edge. Inspections and drill became the order of 
the day. Both officers and enlisted men met up with a 
type of military discipline the existence of which they had 
heretofore only suspected. 

With the arrival of the Unit R officers, the matter of 
seniority necessitated a number of changes in the stafif, 
particularly in the medical section, where junior officers 
were in charge of hospital buildings. Major Herrick re- 
lieved Lieutenant Ricketts as officer in charge of Hos- 
pital C, and Captain Fuller succeeded Lieutenant Max- 
well as officer in charge of Hospital E. 

By this time Lieutenant Edwards, who had been unable 
to sail with the unit on account of illness, had rejoined it 
at Contrexeville. Captain Humes, however, had been 
transferred to Base Hospital No. 8 for temporary duty, 
and Lieutenant Beeler was absent on detached service at 
Chaumont. On March nth Lieutenant Bushey was re- 
lieved from duty as quartermaster by Lieutenant George 
Schutte. Lieutenant Maxwell was appointed receiving 
officer, and Lieutenant Moore was succeeded as detach- 
ment commander by Captain McGuire. 

70 



Spring, 1918 71 

As a result of promotions and the appointment of addi- 
tional non-commissioned officers, there had been a num- 
ber of changes of status in the enlisted personnel. The 
roster at this time shows the following non-commissioned 
officers, cooks and first-class privates: Hospital sergeant, 
Pfranklin; sergeants, first class, Asperger, Callis, Hitz, 
Jennings, Reel, Rich, Sheller and Swaim; sergeants. Ash- 
worth, Barwise, Beck, Brewer, Carroll, Duncan, Fish- 
back, Hollenbeck, Judd, Magee, MacDougal, McEl- 
waine, McGiffin, McHugh, Robinson, Westfall and 
Dudley White; corporals, Duck, C. Johnston, Lukens, 
O'Hern, Reeves and George White; cooks, Ashe, Ham- 
ilton, Hicks, W. A. Johnson, Loechle, Miller, Norris, 
Plough, Satters and Wagner; privates, first class, Brad- 
ley, Drake, Fletcher, Gaither, Hagaman, Heffner, Hol- 
lingsworth, R. K. Johnson, Judkins, McArdle, Matthews, 
Quinn, Reitenour, Riggs, Sanagan, Sellmeyer, Snyder, 
Stuart and Stuvel. 

Up until this time a few patients from the personnel 
and an occasional allied patient had been admitted to the 
hospital, but no convoys of any size, either by train or 
ambulance, had been received. On March 19th a train- 
load of patients for the Vittel Center passed through 
Contrexeville, and on March 22nd a telegram to the com- 
manding officer of Base Hospital 32 brought the informa- 
tion that a train was en route for Contrexeville which 
was due to arrive the following day. On Saturday, March 
23rd, at 5 :oo p. m., American Hospital Train 52 arrived. 
It carried 336 American patients, of which all but twenty- 
six officers were received by Base Hospital 32. The of- 
ficers, in accordance with previous arrangements, were 
turned over to Base Hospital 31. 

The first death among the patients of Base Hospital 32 
occurred the following morning, Sunday, March 24th, 
when Francis G. Wells, of Ohio, died. The funeral was 



72 A History of Base Hospital 32 

held in the afternoon. A brief service was read by Bishop 
Francis, and full military honors were accorded. At four 
o'clock the flag-draped coffin was lowered into the first 
grave in the little American cemetery that adjoined the 
old French graveyard on the hill back of Contrexeville. 

With the arrival of the first hospital train there ensued 
a period of strenuous activity. Convoys of patients both 
by train and by ambulance were frequent. On March 
26th seventy-five additional patients arrived, mostly gas 
cases, many of whom were in a critical condition. These 
patients were also Americans, but many of the subsequent 
convoys were composed largely of French and British 
troops — particularly the former. Indeed the number of 
French patients received by Base Hospital 32 during the 
spring and summer of 1918 reached such proportions that 
the French Service de Sante assigned two officers and a 
corps of clerical assistants to co-operate with the hospital 
staff in this work. Major Charles Fink, whose charming 
personality won him many friends among the Americans, 
was in charge of the French organization, assisted by 
Lieutenant Normand. The headquarters offices of Major 
Fink and his stafif were located on the main floor of Hos- 
pital E. 

Until early April the laboratory of Base Hospital 32 
was located in Hospital E, with Lieutenant Scott Ed- 
wards as officer in charge, assisted by Lieutenant Elmer 
Funkhouser and Sergeant Don Westfall. On April 8th, 
however, in accordance with the recommendation of 
Colonel J. F. Siler, director of laboratories and infectious 
diseases, a central laboratory, designed to serve the needs 
of both Base Hospitals 31 and 32, was established on the 
second floor of the Harmand Hotel — Hospital 3 of Base 
Hospital 31. The laboratory stafif was assigned as fol- 
lows: Lieutenant Scott R. Edwards, officer in charge and 
serology; Lieutenant David Farley, wound bacteriolo- 



Spring, 191 8 73 

gist; Lieutenant Elmer Funkhouser, clinical and ana- 
tomical pathology, and Lieutenant Walden E. Muns, 
general bacteriology. The laboratory at Hospital E was 
retained as an auxiliary laboratory, and small subsidiary 
laboratories were established in the wards. A common 
mortuary for both base hospitals was maintained in the 
basement of the Hotel Harmand Annex. 

The quartermaster commissary, located on the main 
floor of the Hotel Continental, was also opened in April. 
Its shelves boasted a fluctuating supply of toilet articles, 
foodstuffs and tobacco. Here, if one were not too par- 
ticular as to brands, cigarettes could be purchased; and 
at rare intervals, by standing in line for an interminable 
time, one might have the good fortune to come away with 
a one-pound tin of very good American candy. In spite 
of the frequent inadequacy of its supplies, the commis- 
sary filled a much-needed want. It was systematically 
managed, and the shortages of some items were really not 
so much the fault of the supply system as they were of the 
remarkable hoarding instinct that was so highly devel- 
oped among the men. Almost everybody had a carton or 
two of "Camels" laid away in his barracks bag against a 
possible rainy day. 

Changes of personnel during this period of the hos- 
pital's activity maintained their previous standards of fre- 
quency. On April 9th the first surgical team* (A. E. F. 
No. 19), consisting of Major E. D. Clark, Major C, B. 
McCuUouch, Lieutenant Ralph Lochry, Lillie V. Beck, 
Ruth Dillon, Mary Ferguson, Clarence D. Reitenour and 
John McArdle, was ordered to Compiegne for temporary 
duty. On the same date Captain Mumford was ordered 
to Base Hospital 66, where he joined a surgical team from 
that unit, and was assigned to duty with the First French 

*Surgical Team, A. E. F., No. 19, was mentioned in orders dated July 10, 
1918, for bravery and devotion to duty under fire. 



74 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Army for a period of three months. By this time Lieuten- 
ant Beeler had returned to 32, and Lieutenant Arthur E. 
Guedel had been ordered to Contrexeville for duty with 
the hospitals at that point and at Vittel. 

The second surgical team (A. E. F. No. 20) was called 
out on April 20th and ordered to duty with the French 
Third Army. This team consisted of Captain Paul F. 
Martin, Lieutenant Frank C. Walker, Lieutenant Ken- 
neth L. Johnston, Hazel Bennet, Eleanor Ryan, Harry 
Hollenbeck and Herman HoUingsworth. It was later 
transferred to the French Tenth Army, and finally served 
with U. S. Evacuation Hospitals 6 and 7 in the St. Mihiel 
and Argonne sectors. 

On April 20th Major Clark was relieved from duty 
with the first surgical team and ordered back to Contrexe- 
ville. A few days later it was rumored that there was a 
shortage of medical officers in the lines, and on April 26th 
Lieutenants Quimby, Hurt, Funkhouser, Ricketts and 
Crow were ordered to the front for duty with the 42nd 
Division. These officers were assigned to various organi- 
zations with which they served for periods ranging from 
six weeks to more than two months. Lieutenant Quimby 
with the 1 1 8th Engineers, Lieutenant Hurt with the 165th 
Infantry, Lieutenant Funkhouser with the 117th Ammu- 
nition Train, Lieutenant Ricketts with the 150th Field 
Artillery and Lieutenant Crow with the i66th Infantry. 

The first enlisted man of Base Hospital 32 to become a 
commissioned officer was Sergeant Pfranklin, who re- 
ceived a commission as first lieutenant, sanitary corps, on 
March 25th, and was appointed adjutant, relieving Cap- 
tain Graham. Later Sergeants Hitz, Reel, Callis and 
Duck were similarly commissioned and appointed medi- 
cal supply officer, detachment commander, mess officer 
and registrar, respectively. 

On May 2nd the American Red Cross opened the bath- 



Spring, 191 8 75 

house of the Societe des Eaux — one of the most important 
achievements of Red Cross history in Contrexeville. The 
"tin pitcher" sponges which had hitherto constituted the 
sole method of bathing were superseded immediately by 
luxurious porcelain tub baths with a bountiful supply of 
hot water, soap and towels. The main floor of the bath- 
house, with its twenty-nine bathrooms, was reserved for 
the enlisted men, while the twenty-eight bathrooms on the 
second floor were divided equally between the officers and 
nurses. As it was planned to receive all patients through 
the bathhouse except stretcher cases, whose condition was 
too serious to permit bathing, the baths were closed to the 
personnel on days when large convoys were expected. As 
a matter of fact the opening of the bathhouse at this time 
was occasioned by the arrival of a convoy of French pa- 
tients for the hospital, and the work of receiving them was 
greatly facilitated. 

The arrival of a large convoy — the receiving, bathing 
classification and distribution of the patients — was a task 
of sufficient magnitude to test the efficiency of any hos- 
pital organization. Hospital trains sometimes arrived on 
very short notice, and occasionally with no notice at all, 
but as a rule telegraphic advice of their movement was 
received in sufficient time to make all necessary prepara- 
tions. These notification telegrams were sent to the com- 
manding officer of the hospital from the Surgeon, Ad- 
vance Section and generally stated the train number, the 
scheduled hour of arrival at Contrexeville, the number of 
sitting patients, the number of lying patients, and a classi- 
fication of these patients as to nationality, surgical and 
medical cases, and officers and enlisted men. This statis- 
tical information, however, was often badly garbled and 
of little value, and, at best, was seldom more than a rough 
approximation of the actual contents of the train. 

The expeditious handling of a large convoy was a mat- 



76 A History of Base Hospital 32 

ter of teamwork that depended upon prompt and efficient 
action from almost every department of the hospital. A 
single slip, anywhere in the system, and the entire ma- 
chine ceased to function properly. As soon as notice of 
the movement of a train was received the adjutant's office 
immediately notified the officer in charge of every depart- 
ment concerned. The mess officer was advised as to the 
number of patients expected in order that additional ra- 
tions might be supplied in sufficient time, and the officer 
in charge of each hospital building was given a rough 
approximation of the number of patients destined for his 
hospital. The preparations within the buildings were 
important. Sufficient beds must be made up ready for 
patients and the wards must be amply stocked with what- 
ever clean linen, dressings, drugs and pharmaceutical sup- 
plies they might require. Similar, and even more exten- 
sive preparations were necessary in the surgery, where a 
long list of surgical equipment must be ready for instant 
use, and the entire surgical stafif, including the X-ray de- 
partment, the anesthetists and the various specialists, or- 
ganized for what might prove to be an extended period 
of intensive service. The sergeant in charge of the garage 
must have his ambulances ready and waiting at the train. 
The medical supply officer must take an ample stock of 
stretchers, blankets, pajamas and splints to the station in 
order to reimburse the hospital train for whatever equip- 
ment might be transferred with the patients. 

Since all patients except those too seriously wounded 
were taken from the train to the bathhouse and bathed 
before being sent to the buildings, it was necessary to give 
the American Red Cross early notification, in order that 
the bathhouse might be prepared and sufficient supplies 
of towels, soap, pajamas, bathrobes and blankets secured. 
The quartermaster must be at the bathhouse to direct the 
handling of the patients' clothing and equipment, must 




FRENCH HOSPITAL TRAIN 




r.\l.()Al)I.\(, PATIENTS AT THE IJAlll IKH'SI 



Spring, 19 i8 77 

sort and salvage it, and sterilize the clothing. The detach- 
ment commander was required to furnish the necessary 
details of stretcher bearers to unload the train and to 
transfer the patients to and from the ambulances at the 
bathhouse, and from the ambulances into the various 
buildings. Each of these details was in charge of a non- 
commissioned officer. Finally, the receiving officer must 
be at the train ready to direct the unloading and to make 
a rough diagnosis of the patients and assign them by 
means of tags to the proper buildings, and last, but by no 
means least, the registrar must be prepared to record the 
name, number, organization, diagnosis and location of 
every patient. 

With a few hours' advance notice for all these prepara- 
tions, the work of unloading a train generally progressed 
smoothly and followed a definite and methodical system. 
Under ideal conditions there was no evidence of either 
haste or delay. Too much speed at the train meant a 
blockade at the bathhouse, the machinery would clog and 
the result would only incur greater delays. The work 
must proceed in a quiet, orderly fashion, and at a certain 
definite speed — fast enough to keep each department oc- 
cupied to capacity, but slowly enough to avoid congestion 
anywhere along the line. 

With the arrival of the train the officer in charge im- 
mediately reported to the receiving officer the exact num- 
ber of patients sitting and lying and their location by cars. 
Each patient carried with him securely attached to his 
clothing, a field medical card showing his name, rank, 
organization, diagnosis and other history. This card had 
generally been prepared by the attending medical officer 
at the field hospital which received the patients orig- 
inally, and was intended to accompany the man through 
all evacuation and base hospitals through which he might 
pass. Subsequent notations of operations, treatment, etc., 



78 A History of Base Hospital 32 

were entered on the card from time to time, so that any 
medical organization to which the man might be sent re- 
ceived, attached to the patient himself, a complete history 
of the case. 

With the information indicated on these cards, and 
with the assistance of the officer in charge of the train, the 
receiving officer was able to give priority to the most 
serious stretcher cases. These were removed from the 
train immediately, transferred carefully to the waiting 
ambulances, and driven, four to a car, directly to the 
hospital buildings to which they had been assigned. Here 
they were met by the officer in charge of the building and 
transferred, under his directions, to the wards previously 
prepared and waiting to receive them. 

The less serious stretcher cases and the sitting cases 
were loaded into the ambulances, four lying or eight sit- 
ting, and sent to the bathhouse. The officer in charge here 
was assisted by three non-commissioned officers, one in 
charge of the detail that unloaded and reloaded the am- 
bulances, and two others directing details in each wing 
of the bathhouse, whose duty it was to prepare the tubs 
and assist the patients in undressing and bathing. As soon 
as the patients arrived, each one was given clean pajamas, 
socks, a towel and a pair of slippers. The Red Cross also 
provided each man with a comfort bag to which they 
transferred their money and valuables. They were then 
directed to the rooms in either wing of the building, 
where baths were prepared and waiting for them. 

Here the patients, if they arrived in uniform, parted 
with their clothing and equipment, all of which was piled 
outside the bathroom door by the orderly in charge. 
These piles were collected immediately and taken to a 
large room in the center of the building, where a quarter- 
master's detail sorted and bundled them prior to steriliza- 
tion. In the case of American soldiers all ordnance prop- 



Spring, 19 i8 79 

erty was taken up and shipped to the nearest ordnance 
depot. Clothing was sterilized and then salvaged, along 
with shoes, to be put back into stock and reissued. French 
and Allied clothing and equipment, however, was han- 
dled differently. The patients were given checks, stubs of 
which were attached to their clothing, which was then 
sterilized and later returned to them as soon as they were 
able to leave the hospital. It might be said in passing 
that however necessary this sterilization was, it was 
hardly calculated to enhance the beauty of a garment. 
Many a beautiful, form-fitting uniform was ruined in the 
process, and many a French officer uttered a horrified 
''Mon Dieii!" and refused to believe his eyes when his 
clothing was returned to him. A freshly sterilized uni- 
form was a sorry sight, at best. It was probably sanitary, 
but that was all that could be said for it. 

When the patients emerged from the bathrooms in 
clean pajamas they were bundled into bathrobes and 
blankets, classified as to surgical or medical cases, and 
taken out to the ambulances which were waiting to trans- 
port them to the respective buildings. In the meantime 
the more serious cases which had been received direct 
from the train were already installed in the wards. 

In addition to relieving the congestion at the hospital 
buildings, the big advantage of this method of receiving 
the bulk of a convoy through the bathhouse was that the 
patients arrived at the buildings clean and were installed 
immediately in fresh clean beds. The nurses and orderlies 
were not obliged to bathe them and could give attention 
immediately to more important work. 

Following closely the opening of the bathhouse, an- 
other important achievement of the Red Cross was the 
opening of the Casino Theatre on May 4th. Mrs. Bel- 
mont Tiffany of New York, who was prominently identi- 
fied with the Red Cross work in France, was present on 



8o A History of Base Hospital 32 

this occasion and was one of the principal speakers on the 
opening program. It was at this time, too, that the an- 
nouncement was made of the transfer of Captain Lawr- 
ence Hitchcock, through whose efforts the theater had 
been obtained, to the Paris headquarters of the American 
Red Cross, and the appointment of Captain William H. 
Thompson as his successor. 

The Casino Theatre was a thoroughly modern struc- 
ture, beautifully decorated and perfect in its appoint- 
ments. Under the auspices of the Red Cross i't offered a 
diversity of attractions, and played to crowded houses. 
The pictures were good and the musical entertainments 
well planned. Officers, nurses, enlisted men and con- 
valescent patients alike flocked to the Casino and forgot 
their homesickness. 

With spring well along, and a few days of real baseball 
weather coming between rains, it was only natural that 
some of the more ardent fans turned their attention to 
getting up a team. The team was duly organized with 
the following lineup: Ashe, catcher; Brown and White, 
pitchers; Sheller, first base; Swaim, second base; Rich, 
shortstop; Quinn, third base; Bradley, Fishback and Cor- 
rigan, fielders. The first game was scheduled with Base 
Hospital 36 on May 4th, 32 losing by a score of 8 to 2. 
The second game, with Base Hospital 23 on May nth, 
resulted in another defeat, 23 winning 9 to 5. The Base 
Hospital 32 team was late in organizing and was greatly 
handicapped in these early games by the lack of a good 
field for practice. It was not until mid-summer, after a 
monotonous series of defeats, that they finally struck their 
stride, and on July 13th won their first game by trouncing 
Base Hospital 31 to the tune of 11 to 4. 

The first influenza epidemic which 32 encountered 
broke out on May 19th and spread rapidly through the 
organization. Within ten days' time almost a third of the 



Spring, 1918 81 

entire personnel had experienced a more or less severe 
touch of the "flu." The illness at this time was character- 
ized by a high fever and the usual influenza symptoms, 
but was of surprisingly brief duration, and most of the 
men were back on duty within a few days. Scarlet fever 
also broke out in the organization late in May, but the 
cases were isolated immediately and the danger of con- 
tagion averted. 

On May 30th the entire command of Base Hospitals 31 
and 32, together with the French military and civilians, 
joined in the observation of Memorial Day. No better 
description of the Memorial Day exercises could be given 
than that contained in the following extract from a letter 
by a member of the unit:* 

I can't stop this letter without telling you about Memo- 
rial Day as we celebrated it here — and perhaps if any one 
who reads this has lost a soldier over here it will help a 
little to know in what reverence his memory is held, for I 
am certain the scene here was more or less typical of what 
took place every place in France where the American 
flag marks the resting place of an American soldier. 

It was one of those days you could never forget, and 
wouldn't if you could — even in these days so full of inci- 
dent and color, when so much is happening all the time 
that it makes one almost giddy to try and keep up with it. 
All these things going on so close — and though we see 
only a little tiny corner of it, comparatively, still it is 
enough to give us an idea of what it must be closer over 
to the big show itself. And way off here, 6,000 miles from 
home, Memorial Day seemed different than it ever did 
before — and I guess it WAS different, for all of us — I 
know that two years ago I spent it out at pagoda in the 
Speedway, keeping a weather eye on the death curve, and 
that last Memorial Day I was sitting in Johnny Burton's 
old "concrete mixer" out at Fort Harrison, watching the 
future officers having field day — and it's a long trail from 

*Froni a letter from Mary Bostwick published in the Indianapolis Star. 



82 A History of Base Hospital 32 

either of these places to the little Catholic graveyard in 
this corner of France, 

A part of this old cemetery has been set apart for the 
American boys who die in the hospitals here, and in this 
section are two graves — soldiers who died about two 
months ago, soon after having been brought here — and it 
was over the two graves that the ceremonies of the day 
centered. 

It was the most beautiful day you ever saw — all white 
and blue and gold and sparkling, and many of the nurses 
had gone out the previous day and brought in great arm- 
loads of the wild flowers that grow everywhere here — 
lilies-of-the-valley and big white daisies and pink haw- 
thorn — and the people of the town had given peonies and 
lilacs, so that altogether there was about a truckload of 
flowers. 

There was a parade first, of course, forming in the 
Colonnade, and the crowd that watched the parade form 
and that lined the curb along the line of march was as 
much a picture as the parade itself. There were all the 
nurses of the two hospitals, with their white uniforms and 
caps and their dark blue capes lined with scarlet; there 
were any number of soldiers of all our allies — but with 
the French the most in evidence, of course, because there 
are so many hundreds of French patients here and most 
of them wear the sky blue, and there were hundreds of 
American soldiers, convalescing here, and from all the 
windows of all the hospitals bandaged heads were stick- 
ing out, and even a few patients came adventuring out in 
their pajamas and bathrobes so as not to miss anything. 
Taking it by and large, it was quite a collection. 

The parade wasn't any great shakes of a parade so far 
as size was concerned, but I'm here to tell you that it 
meant more to us over here than all the gorgeous pro- 
cessions and pageants that ever marched through the city 
streets in peace time — not even excepting the famous 
"Germ Parades" and others I have witnessed. First came 
the brass band — we've got two, the jazz band and the 
brass band, and this was the brass band of about twenty 



Spring, 191 8 83 

pieces, composed of men of both units, and then came all 
the available men of the hospital units — every man that 
could be spared from detail — all spick and span in their 
uniforms — even wearing their bunchy first-aid belts. 
There must have been about 300 medical corps men in 
line. 

In the middle of the procession came the flag — a great 
big American flag — and acting as a guard of honor to it 
were five French soldiers, who are stationed here as inter- 
preters and who, I think, have been in all the principal 
battles of the war. They wore their sky blue uniforms, 
with the queer, cumbersome overcoats, looped back and 
buttoned, and battered trench casques of blue painted 
steel were on their heads, and to their sides were strappeB 
big trench knives. Every one stood at attention, very stifif 
and straight, as the flag went by — the French saluting in 
that peculiar palm-outward way they have. That was all 
there was to the parade — but when you come to think of 
it, what more was needed? The whole story was right 
there. 

In the reviewing stand — which wasn't a stand at all, 
but just a place on the main promenade — were the two 
C. O.'s and all the other officers and some of the way-up 
French officers, including the "medicin chef" and the 
mayor — the mayor being a very stately and bewhiskered 
old party in a long coat with a tri-color sash across his 
breast. 

As soon as the parade had passed every one hurried up 
to the cemetery and crowded in the space about the t\^^o 
graves of the American soldiers — and a little later the 
medical corps men marched up and the band and the 
officers. Close to the graves of the two Americans stood 
an American soldier holding a big French flag, and as our 
color bearer came up, the two stood together. I wish I 
could send you a picture of the whole thing. Every one 
who could possibly get there was there — the cemetery was 
packed with people — soldiers and nurses — the walls 
around the cemetery were lined with soldiers, French and 
American, and almost every citizen of this little town was 



84 A History of Base Hospital 32 

there, for to them this was all a very strange and new 
ceremony. 

The town is in a valley, and the cemetery, at the edge of 
the town, is on a rise of ground, and all around on the 
surrounding hills were men and women working in the 
fields — plowing and planting, and every little while stop- 
ping to turn and look down on the cemetery where the 
crowd had gathered. I can't tell how beautiful the picture 
was. It would have to be seen — the soft and brilliant 
colors, the contrast of those men and women working 
there on their little farms, and the services being held over 
the graves of those two American boys. 

The program was very simple. The band, standing 
close beside the graves, played a dirge, the bishop and the 
chaplain of the other unit both made addresses, and so did 
the medicin chef. He spoke first in English and then in 
French, for the benefit of the French soldiers — and the 
band played "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and the "Mar- 
sellaise," and then, as six enlisted men scattered the flow- 
ers over the two graves, "Nearer, My God, to Thee." 
Every soldier there stood at salute as a firing squad of 
marines fired three volleys off toward the hills, and the 
echoes were still coming back as the two buglers blew 
^'Taps." I couldn't help but wish that the families and 
friends of those two boys could have been here. I know 
that wherever I go I'll never forget that Memorial Day 
here in France in 1918. 




BASTILLE DAY CEREMONIES 




'^B^^^,^ 



MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONIES AT THE A.MKKii. A.\ i L.MLILKV 



VII 

Summer, 1918 

JUNE started off with a rush. A telegram received on 
May 31st told of a trainload of four hundred patients 
destined for Contrexeville and due to arrive that night at 
eleven o'clock. A later wire set the hour for three in the 
morning. Finally, about five o'clock, after the unit had 
spent a sleepless night waiting, the train arrived. It car- 
ried a mixed assortment of allied patients, British, 
French, Hindu and French colonial troops, and the inter- 
preters worked overtime. 

Another convoy arrived June 2nd, an ambulance train 
this time, carrying about fifty American patients from 
Baccarat. George Sandford, who had been transferred 
from 32 at Fort Harrison, was one of the ambulance 
drivers. Additional convoys were received by ambulance 
on the 1 8th, 20th and 23 rd — the last arriving at two 
o'clock in the morning, and including twelve wounded 
German prisoners, who excited considerable curiosity. 
Souvenir hunters raided their uniforms and equipment 
in search of buttons and belt buckles, and a few of the 
linguists engaged them in conversation. They predicted 
at least another year of war and a conclusion without a 
decisive victory for either side. One of the prisoners 
seemed very young, apparently not over sixteen, but, ex- 
cept for their wounds, they were all in good shape physi- 
cally, and their uniforms and equipment were of excel- 
lent quality and in good condition. They were placed in 
a ward by themselves in Hospital A and were kept under 
constant guard. 

There was some excitement on the night of June 26th 
when a telephone call from Neufchateau announced that 

85 



86 A History of Base Hospital 32 

German planes had just flown over the town and were 
headed for Contrexeville. Occasional air raids had been 
reported from neighboring towns — principally Chau- 
mont and Neufchateau, but Contrexeville, on account of 
its size and because of the absence of any industries or 
troops other than medical organizations, had always been 
regarded as comparatively safe. The alarm was spread 
rapidly. Lights were extinguished, and there followed a 
few tense minutes of waiting, but no planes appeared. In 
spite of the rumors that circulated back home, this was as 
near as 32 ever came to being bombed. 

Another trainload of patients arrived on June 29th, 
when one hundred and twenty-three Americans, mostly 
gas and liquid fire casualties from the Luneville sector, 
were admitted to the hospital. Busy days followed, and 
the number of empty beds neared the minimum. 

In spite of the frequency of convoys and the long hours 
of work which their arrival incurred, there were occa- 
sional lulls when at least a part of the personnel found 
time for recreation and amusement. There was the Y 
concert on June 12th, and the baseball game with Base 
Hospital 36 a week later, which 32 lost by a score of 
12 to 6. 

On June 20th the enlisted men of Base Hospitals 31 and 
32 presented a minstrel show at the Red Cross Theater 
that filled the house to standing room. The minstrels were 
produced under the direction of a committee which in- 
cluded Paul R. Matthews and Joseph Dufify, of Base 
Hospital 32, and Walter Onorato and Arthur Mulvihill, 
of Base Hospital 31. The lines and songs were clever, and 
the presentation was enthusiastically received. John Dun- 
can, Bernard Bradley and Hallie Hamilton made excel- 
lent end men, and special numbers by Herman Earnest 
and Wilbur Baldwin were among the features of the per- 
formance. A chorus of forty voices included the following 



Summer, 1918 . 87 

from 32: James Sertell, Edward Reeves, Charles Stough, 
Leslie Summers, Harry Brown, Louis Stuart, Glenn 
Riggs, Harry Riddell, Marchael Lyons, Roger Giles, 
Samuel Hart, Earl Baker, Clarence Campbell, Paul Fer- 
rel, John Lukens, Ferrel Searls and Vinton Diemer. 
Paul R. Matthews was musical director and the orchestra 
included Vernon Sheller, Joseph Duffy, D. K. Jones and 
Paul Bishop. Raymond Cooke was stage electrician. 

July 4th witnessed an interesting celebration of Inde- 
pendence Day, a brilliant feature being the military pa- 
rade in which British, French and Colonial troops joined 
with the Americans from both hospitals. The program 
was under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel C. R. 
Clark, of Base Hospital 31, and the celebration was cen- 
tered in the park in front of the colonnade. Captain 
Frank Fuller, Bishop Francis, Major Charles Fink and 
M. Morel, mayor of Contrexeville, delivered brief ad- 
dresses. The town was gaily decorated with American 
flags, most of which had been cleverly improvised by the 
natives from whatever material was at hand. The after- 
noon was devoted to athletics, with a double-header base- 
ball game as a headliner. "32" came out with an even 
break in these games, their officers defeating the officers 
of 31 by a score of 12 to 2, while the enlisted men were 
beaten 11 to 3. 

Similar, but somewhat simpler exercises, marked the 
observance of Bastille Day on July 14th. The town blos- 
somed out again with flags, and the tri-color hung con- 
spicuously from American buildings. An interesting cere- 
mony in charge of the mayor, M. Morel, was occasioned 
by the decorating of two French soldiers with the Croix 
de Guerre. 

Changes in personnel during June and July were nu- 
merous. On June ist William P. Davis was transferred 
to Red Cross Military Hospital i at Paris for duty. On 



88 A History of Base Hospital 32 

June 15th the officers' personnel of Base Hospital 32 was 
augmented by the addition of Lieutenant Charles E. 
Wagner and Lieutenant Van N. Verplanck. Two more 
officers were acquired on June 26th when Captain C. W. 
Banner and Lieutenant Albert Barr reported for duty. It 
was at about this time also that the following nurses and 
enlisted men left for several days' duty with Evacuation 
Hospital 2 at Baccarat: Kathryn Graber, Florine Os- 
tenzi, Elsie Peacock, Addie Threlkeld, Alys Weitendorf, 
Archibald Cantrall, Wells B. Andrews, Morris Drosdo- 
witz, Roger Giles, Paul Jericho, Ed Kahle, John Lar- 
more, Joseph Pugh, Clifford Williams and Lowell 
Young. 

Other nurses ordered to Baccarat for duty during June 
were Tulie Roberson, Lena L. Payne, Anna Rohr, Mar- 
garet McCoppin, Beulah Prust, Ruth Wright and Mary 
Bowen. These nurses replaced Nellie Rock, Madge 
Baldwin, Dora Blank, Birda R. Hunt, Golda Smith, 
Amy Prosser and Mayme O'Connel who were returned 
to duty with ^'32." 

On July nth Lieutenant John T. Day was transferred 
to Base Hospital loi, and on July 14th Captain Eugene 
B. Mumford, Captain Paul Martin, Lieutenant Frank C. 
Walker and Lieutenant Kenneth L. Johnston, together 
with nurses Hazel Bennet, Eleanor Ryan, Sergeant Harry 
HoUenbeck and Herman HoUingsworth, all of whom 
had been on detached service with Surgical Team 20, 
were ordered back to 32 for duty. A few days later, how- 
ever, when Surgical Team 20 was called to Evacuation 
Hospital 7, Captain Martin, Lieutenant Walker, Miss 
Bennett and Miss Ryan were called with it, and Captain 
James and Richard K. Johnson accompanied them. 

On July 1 2th Mary Bostwick and Geraldine Frost, 
civilian employees, were transferred to Headquarters, S. 
O. S. at Tours. 



Summer, 1918 89 

The personnel was further depleted by the transfer of 
Lieutenant Lochry to Base Hospital 116, and by the as- 
signment to Surgical Team 19 of Lieutenant Kenneth 
Johnston, Nellie Rock, Mary Mangan and Lowell 
Young. Lieutenant J. W. Scherer and Claude E. Snyder 
were transferred to the Twentieth Engineers. Lieutenant 
Scherer was succeeded by Lieutenant Stanley S. Rey- 
nolds, D. R. C. 

One of the most important changes in the personnel 
during this period of the unit's history occurred on July 
15th, when Major H. H. Van Kirk was relieved from 
duty with Base Hospital 32 and transferred to Bazoilles 
to assume command of Base Hospital 18. Following the 
transfer of Major Van Kirk, Lieutenant Colonel Edmund 
D, Clark, who had recently been promoted from major, 
became commanding officer of Base Hospital 32, and 
Major A. B. Graham was appointed officer in charge of 
Hospital A. 

In addition to all of these changes in the personnel, 
July also saw the beginning of the formation of the Vittel- 
Contrexeville Hospital Center. This step was in con- 
formity with the policy recently adopted by the chief sur- 
geon's office of grouping all neighboring base hospitals 
together under a central headquarters office, and marked 
some important changes in the operation of the hospital. 
Under the new system the individual hospitals continued 
to function independently under their own commanding 
officers, but all transportation, supplies and equipment 
were concentrated in the central offices, and matters of 
local jurisdiction were under the authority of the com- 
manding officer of the center. A complete change in 
paper work was necessitated, and all reports, correspond- 
ence, etc., were filed through the Hospital Center offices. 

One of the first steps in the formation of the Center was 
the transfer of all trucks, ambulances and transportation 



90 A History of Base Hospital 32 

equipment to Vittel. This change came July i6th, much 
to the disgust of a large detail of men who had been dig- 
ging for days through solid rock to make a place for a 
huge underground gasoline tank to supply the 32 garage. 
The tank was no sooner installed than the order came to 
transfer all transportation to the Center and close the 
garage. 

The organization of the Hospital Center headquarters 
staff and the transfer of all quartermaster and medical 
supplies to the Center supply depots involved consider- 
able labor and was not completed for several weeks. 
Lieutenant Colonel G. V. Rukke was relieved as com- 
manding officer of Base Hospital 23 and assumed com- 
mand of the Center with headquarters offices at Vittel. 
Lieutenant A. C. Calish, of Base Hospital 23, became 
adjutant and Major Hickey, also of Base Hospital 23, 
was appointed group quartermaster. Base Hospital 32 
was represented on the Center headquarters staff by 
Major Chas. D. Humes as consulting neurologist and 
Lieutenant Benjamin D. Hitz as group medical supply 
officer. Captain Arthur E. Guedel, of Indianapolis, was 
consulting anesthetist for the Center. 

The last days of July found the hospital experiencing a 
period of the most intensive service in its entire history. 
Convoy after convoy arrived, and officers, nurses and en- 
listed men alike worked at long stretches, and rested when 
they could. On July 22nd a trainload of five hundred and 
thirteen patients from the Twenty-sixth Division, north- 
west of Chateau Thierry, arrived, and on the following 
day two hundred and forty-nine more. On July 25th an- 
other convoy of more than three hundred was admitted to 
the hospital, making a total of considerably more than one 
thousand patients received within four days. Many of 
these came directly from field and mobile hospitals, so 
that Base Hospital 32 was really functioning as an evacu- 



Summer, 1918 91 

ation hospital to a large degree. The normal capacity of 
the hospital during July is recorded as being one thousand 
two hundred and twenty-five, and the emergency capacity 
one thousand four hundred and fifty. At one time during 
this busy period the patients in the hospital totaled one 
thousand four hundred and seventy-two. With emer- 
gency cots in the corridors and mattresses in every avail- 
able corner, the patients still overflowed the buildings. 
On July 25th the enlisted men of the personnel, who were 
billeted in the "Glass House," vacated their quarters and 
took to "pup" tents on the hill near the old theater. For 
some time after that the "Glass House" was used as a sur- 
gical ward to take care of the overflow from Hospital A. 
August saw fewer changes in the personnel than almost 
any month in foreign service. With the exception of the 
transfer of Nurses Jeanette Miller and Jesse M. Ervin to 
Base Hospital 8 on August 5th, no permanent transfers 
are recorded. On account of the unusually crowded con- 
ditions of the hospital, the seven-day leaves of absence, 
which many of the command had been enjoying, were 
temporarily suspended and were not resumed until the 
latter part of the month. The leave regulations permitted 
a seven-day leave of absence in any prescribed A. E. F. 
leave area once in every six months of service. There 
were a number of these leave areas, but among the most 
popular and those most frequently visited by the members 
of "32" were the areas at Nice, Aix-les-Bains, Haute 
Savoie, St. Malo and Grenoble. The seven days' leave 
did not include the time spent in going or coming from 
the areas, so that an absence of twelve, or even fourteen 
days was not uncommon. Trains were slow and connec- 
tions uncertain, and the system offered unlimited oppor- 
tunities for extensive travel. Short, direct routes were 
studiously avoided, and a circuitous itinerary was gen- 
erally planned that consumed the maximum time allow- 



92 A History of Base Hospital 32 

ance, and included Paris, and numerous other points of 
interest. 

August was another busy month, but there was never a 
period so busy that it was not without its occasional mo- 
ments of diversion. August 8th saw a benefit musical per- 
formance in the park, attended by a little group of civilian 
summer visitors and a large representation of patients and 
personnel. On August 14th the enlisted men presented a 
vaudeville show which was well attended and enthusi- 
astically received. Earnest and Lounsbury were features 
of the bill with clever and original numbers that scored 
big hits. 

The baseball game on the afternoon of August i8th, in 
which Base Hospital 32 battled with Base Hospital 66 in 
an exciting twelve-inning game to a 5 to 5 tie, was one of 
the outstanding events of the baseball season. It was in 
this game that both George White and Harry Brown, two 
mainstays of the "32" pitching stafif, broke their arms, and 
were out of the game for the balance of the summer. 

During the latter part of August the 150th Field Artil- 
lery was stationed in and about Bulgneville, a few miles 
from Base Hospital 32, and visits between friends in the 
two organizations were frequently exchanged. A dinner 
dance given in honor of the officers of the 150th Field 
Artillery on August 24th by the officers of "32" proved to 
be one of the most brilliant social events of the summer. 
An excellent jazz orchestra composed of "32" talent fur- 
nished the music. 

The Base Hospital 32 tennis tournaments were held on 
August 27th and 28th on the courts on the hill back of the 
officers' quarters. A large crowd of fans witnessed the 
championship finals, in which Glenn Smith defeated Roy 
Rich in an exciting five-set match, the last and deciding 
set finally going to Smith by a score of 8 to 6. 

By the end of August the organization was experienc- 





BALL GAME, JULY 4, 1918 




THE MILL 



Summer, 191 8 93 

ing something like a lull in the hospital work. Convoys 
were less frequent, and the records show that only three 
hundred and seventy-one patients were admitted to the 
hospital during the entire month. These figures, however, 
are no indication of the condition of the hospital during 
the early part of August. For the most part, the wards 
were crowded, and the work was correspondingly heavy. 
The stream of convoys that had kept pouring into Con- 
trexeville during the preceding month had necessitated 
the evacuation of every patient that could possibly be 
moved. The result was that the wards were not only 
crowded, but crowded with serious cases. With the grad- 
ual improvement of these cases, however, they were evac- 
uated to base hospitals farther back of the lines, and the 
number of vacant beds was materially increased. Sup- 
plies were replenished and the hospital waited in readi- 
ness for the next drive. 

Promotions occurring in the enlisted personnel during 
the summer were as follows: Ashworth, Judd, McHugh 
and Robinson, to sergeants, first class; O'Hern, Lukens, 
Riggs and George White, to sergeants; Duffy, Sanagan, 
Davey, Heffner, Campbell, Bubelis and Jackson, to cor- 
porals, and Barnett, Downard, Ferrell, Glotfelty, W. C. 
Johnson, Lamson, Marshall, Routh, Shearer, Spainhour, 
Sutton, Plumb, Baker, Brown, Anstead, Cooke, Coppock, 
Geise, Green, Griffith, Jones, Lyons, Hoffman, Mangus, 
Morgan, O'Reilly, Sertell, Summers, Weer, Wright and 
Porter to privates, first class. 



VIII 

Fall, 191 8 

SEPTEMBER i, 1918, the anniversary of the mobili- 
zation of Base Hospital 32, was the occasion of a 
large birthday celebration by the enlisted men at the 
Hotel de la Providence. The mess fund, under the care- 
ful supervision of Lieutenant Callis, had by this time ac- 
cumulated quite a surplus, and a considerable portion of 
this was devoted to a big "feed" in the Providence dining 
room. It was a bountiful feast at which hilarity reigned 
supreme. Music and other entertainment added to the 
festivity of the occasion and made the first anniversary 
party was a memorable one. A similar celebration in the 
nurses' quarters at the Modernewas followed by a dance. 

A review of the hospital's work during its first year 
shows that from the time of its opening in the early 
Spring until September i, 1918, three thousand six hun- 
dred and ninety-five patients had been admitted, of which 
two thousand six hundred and eighty-two were Amer- 
icans, eight hundred and eighty-four French, one hun- 
dred and seventeen British, and twelve enemy prisoners. 
Of the total number of patients admitted, two thousand 
eight hundred and ten had been returned to duty, and 
only eleven had died. The balance had been transferred 
to other hospitals or were still under treatment in "32." 

August was the last month during which any French 
patients were admitted to the hospital. By this time the 
presence of American troops in the fighting lines had 
increased vastly in number, and it became necessary to 
suspend existing hospitalization arrangements with the 
Allies, and reserve American hospitals for American 
soldiers. 

The Chateau-Thierry drive, which had flooded the hos- 

94 



Fall, 191 8 95 

pital beyond its emergency capacity late in July, was a 
sufficient warning of what might be expected in later 
actions. With a view to meeting a repetition of such an 
emergency, representatives of the chief surgeon's office 
visited Contrexeville early in September, and ordered the 
emergency capacity of the hospital increased to two thou- 
sand one hundred and fifteen beds. Two large tents were 
requisitioned to be erected alongside Hospital A and used 
as emergency surgical wards. The following table, taken 
from an official order issued at the time, shows the emer- 
gency expansion by buildings : 

NORMAL EMERGENCY 

Hospital A 479 850 

Hospital B 202 277 

Hospital C 125 215 

Hospital D 190 285 

Hospital E 229 323 

Glass House 165 

In order to provide adequate personnel to take care of 
the increased expansion, additional officers and enlisted 
men were assigned to "32" from time to time during Sep- 
tember and October. Lieutenants F. H. Murray and 
Edward E. Johnston were transferred to "32" early in 
September, and on October 14th Captains J. D. Kelly, 
Frank R. Teschenor, H. H. Varner, and Lieutenants 
Arthur N. Altringer and Edmund C. Mohr were as- 
signed to the hospital for temporary duty. Captain Al- 
phonso H. Meyer was also transferred to "32." 

The additional enlisted men attached to "32" for vary- 
ing periods of service were as follows: John P. Johnson, 
Harold C. Miller, E. N. Freyschlag, R. M. Bierley, 
J. H. Corothers, Sergeant L. G. Dick, Louis Elowsky, 
Owen Hickey, R. H. Johnes, Aleck Kozle, E. H. Lampe, 
J. K. Lane, E. H. Lewis, Harry Monroe, C. J. Murphy, 
H. C. Parker, J. E. Pentrack, Earl Persons, Edward 



96 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Price, Paul R. Rowe, J. W. Senzell, Cad Sheets, An- 
thony Studis, E. F. Sweeney, J. R. Taylor, D. D. Wilson, 
R. R. Wittekiend, Corporal R. R. Wood, Carl Auhl, 
H. J. Beacht, W. L. Burris, R. V. Cavagnare, Harry 
Corneau, Bert Jones, Joseph Kaplan, Bruce McDonald, 
Lloyd Powers, Walter Rigdon, Corporal L. J. St. Marie, 
H. G. Swarthout, H. G. Townes, Fred Wells, and E. A. 
Wright. 

The increase in the hospital's emergency capacity and 
the assignment of additional personnel were amply justi- 
fied by subsequent events. Convoys arrived on September 
19th, 29th, 30th, October ist, 5th, 6th (two) and nth. 
This last date found the hospital buildings again crowded 
to overflowing and every department occupied to capac- 
ity. On October i8th the number of occupied beds in 
Hospital A reached seven hundred and eighty-six — the 
highest number of patients accommodated in that build- 
ing during its entire service. 

In addition to the immense number of surgical cases in 
A and B, the buildings of the medical section were pro- 
portionately crowded, partly as a result of the epidemic 
of influenza that prevailed at that time. 

The figures for September show two thousand three 
hundred and nineteen admissions, of which two thousand 
two hundred and ninety were Americans, two British and 
twenty-seven enemy prisoners. This was the greatest num- 
ber of patients admitted to the hospital during any month 
of its history, although October almost equalled it with 
two thousand three hundred and one admissions, of which 
all were Americans except seventy-four enemy prisoners. 
Fourteen patients died in the hospital during September 
and fifty-seven during October. 

The number of patients returned to duty during these 
two months was relatively small. Only nine hundred and 
seventy-eight completed their convalescence at Base Hos- 



Fall, 191 8 97 

pital 32 and were sent back to active duty. The balance, 
with the exception of those whose condition was too seri- 
ous to allow moving, were transferred to other hospitals. 

Base Hospital 32 at this time was functioning largely 
as an evacuation hospital, receiving convoys directly from 
field hospitals, operating them if necessary, and sending 
them on as rapidly as possible to hospitals farther back 
for convalescence. As long as any emergency existed, the 
hospitals' instructions were to evacuate every case that 
could be moved, and to maintain the greatest possible 
number of vacant beds for subsequent convoys. As a re- 
sult of this policy, one thousand four hundred and seven 
patients during September, and one thousand four hun- 
dred and twenty-six during October, received emergency 
treatment at "32" and were transferred to other hospitals 
for convalescence. 

In spite of the additions to the personnel, the hospital 
force was hardly adequate during this period of emer- 
gency. The influenza epidemic was responsible for an 
unusual amount of sickness in the unit, and many of the 
command were off duty at different times during Septem- 
ber and October on that account. 

In addition to this, the gains in personnel mentioned 
above were offset by a number of losses. On September 
26th, Major Carleton B. McCuUoch (later Lieutenant- 
Colonel), who had been on detached service in charge of 
Surgical Team 19, was permanently transferred to Mo- 
bile Hospital II, of which organization he assumed com- 
mand. About two weeks later Lieutenants Maxwell, 
Sweet and Mehler, Nurses Mary Ferguson, Nellie Rock, 
and Mary Mangan, and Clarence Reitenour and Lowell 
Young were also transferred to Mobile Hospital 11. 

Late in September, Sergeant George E. Magee, who 
had been confined to the hospital for some time on ac- 
count of illness, was transferred to Base Hospital 8 for 



98 A History of Base Hospital 32 

return to the United States. Similar transfers during 
September and October resulted in the loss of the follow- 
ing: Estelle Miller to Base Hospital 8, Harold Poin- 
dexter to Base Hospital 116, and Oliver Reed to U. S. 
Sanitary Train 52 to Bordeaux. 

On October nth, Lieutenant Pfranklin was relieved 
from further duty with Base Hospital 32 and transferred 
to Camp Hospital 61. He was succeeded as adjutant by 
Lieutenant Hitz. Lieutenant C. C. Duck, recently com- 
missioned, was assigned to duty as registrar. 

Other losses in personnel occurred on October 7th, 
when Kenneth Fisk was transferred to the signal corps; 
on October 17th, when Sergeants First Class Roy Rich, 
Louis N. Ashworth, and Sergeants John P. Carroll and 
J. E. Lukens were ordered to Intermediate Medical Sup- 
ply Depot 3 at Cosne for temporary duty; on October 
2ist, when David Dean was transferred to the Central 
Medical Department Laboratory at Dijon; and on Octo- 
ber 31st, when Earl M. Gregory was transferred to the 
Motor Transport Corps, and Sergeant, First Class, Harry 
HoUenbeck was ordered to Surgical Team 20 on detached 
service. 

The transfer of Edward C. Kahle from Base Hospital 
32 deserves particular mention. During the summer 
Kahle, together with Vernon R. Corrigan, applied for 
transfer to the infantry, and on October 13th both of these 
men were transferred to the First Depot Division and 
assigned to Company A, 162nd Infantry. It was only a 
few weeks later that the entire unit was deeply shocked 
by the news of Kahle's death. 

Edward C. Kahle was killed in the fighting in the 
Argonne Forest on November i, 19 18, and was buried in 
the Argonne American Cemetery at Romagne, France. 
The co-ordinates of his grave were given in a letter from 
Lieutenant Byron R. Calglazier as 4284949 — X301070. 



Fall, 191 8 99 

Promotions occurring during the Fall were numerous. 
Lieutenant Moore was promoted to captain, and Cap- 
tains A. B. Graham, John P. Herrick, Chas. D. Humes 
and Lafayette Page were commissioned majors. Promo- 
tions in the enlisted personnel were as follows : To mas- 
ter hospital sergeant, Jennings; to hospital sergeant, As- 
perger; to sergeants, first class, Barwise, Hollenbeck, Mc- 
Elwayne, McGiffin, Brewer, Heffner, McDougall and 
Reeves; to sergeants, Drake, Baker, Campbell, HoUings- 
worth, Morgan, O'Reilly, Plumb, Rogers, Quinn, Duffy, 
Plough, Shearer and Langan (mess sergeant) ; to cor- 
porals, Gaither, Hemminger, Parrett, Bishop, Hobbs and 
Matthews; to privates, first class, Anderson, Berger, Bil- 
timier. Bowman, Chapman, Fehr, Ferrell, Fitchett, 
Hunt, T. Lanahan, Larmore, Kurr, Logan, Lounsbury, 
McArdle, Maugham, Newkirk, Russell, Scovel, Self, 
Stough, Watts, Wise, Yarling, Andrews, Ashe, Atwood, 
Baldwin, Bartle, Blumenthal, Cantrall, Daugherty, Dros- 
dowitz, Earnest, Edwards, Eudaly, Erdmann, Gaumer, 
Gilmore, Hiland, Hunsdon, Iverson, Jericho, Kroeger, 
C. J. Lanahan, Larimore, Lindbom, McLaughlin, Power, 
Riddell, Schillerstrom, M. Smith, Wells, Wesley, Wool- 
haf, Walgren and Brosnan. 

On September 29th the American Red Cross opened 
the Nurses Club on the Rue Salabery. For this purpose 
the Villa Jeanne, a three-story villa of ten rooms, had 
been leased and appropriately furnished. Two large 
rooms on the first floor were converted into a parlor and 
music room, and a well-equipped kitchen served dainty 
luncheons and afternoon tea. The rooms on the second 
floor were devoted to lounging and reading rooms for the 
exclusive use of the nurses. One of the most popular and 
best-equipped rooms in the house was located on the top 
floor. Among other things its furnishings included a sew- 
ing machine, an electric iron and an ironing board. 



loo A History of Base Hospital 32 

Still another of the long list of Red Cross achievements 
occurred on October 14th, when the Red Cross Hut, one 
of the finest of its kind in France, was officially opened 
to the patients and personnel of the two hospitals. Since 
it had been decided to abandon the Casino Theatre on 
account of the difficulty of heating it during the winter 
months, the Red Cross Hut was designed to accommodate 
all future entertainments. The main hall was one hun- 
dred feet long and sixty feet wide, with a stage at one end 
and a sales canteen at the other. Mural decorations 
painted by Jay Connaway adorned the walls. Smaller 
rooms back of the stage were used as dressing rooms and 
class rooms, while at the other end of the building, back 
of the sales canteen, were the kitchen, storeroom and office 
of the directress. 

One of the most noteworthy entertainments given in the 
Red Cross Hut came shortly after its opening, when the 
enlisted personnel of Base Hospitals 31 and 32 presented 
their second show, "An After-Mess Frolic," to a large 
and enthusiastic audience. The committee in charge of 
the production included Paul R. Matthews and Herman 
Earnest from Base Hospital 32. Jack Carroll was inter- 
locutor, with Hallie Hamilton and Bernard Bradley as 
end men. Special numbers by Harry Riddell, Herman 
Earnest and Edward Reeves were enthusiastically re- 
ceived. Others on the program and in the chorus were 
C. R. Lounsbury, Harold Self, Ben Gaither, Wells An- 
drews, James Sertell, Harry Brown, Samuel Hart, Mar- 
chael Lyons and Luke Logan. Base Hospital 32 was rep- 
resented in the orchestra by D. K. Jones, Paul Bishop, 
Joseph Duffy and Vernon Sheller. 

The production was so cleverly conceived and so well 
presented that the cast finally yielded to an insistent de- 
mand for a return engagement and repeated the perform- 
ance in November. Meanwhile the reputation of the pro- 




HOSPITAL A. COSMOPOLITAN PALACE HOTEL 




PERSONNEL HOSPITAL A 



Fall, 191 8 loi 

duction spread to other parts of France and there were 
a number of requests for out-of-town engagements. A 
performance was given at Langres, and other engage- 
ments would have been filled if circumstances had not 
prevented. 

Another organization whose entertainments were im- 
mensely popular in Contrexeville and whose fame spread 
to other parts of the A. E. F. was the Contrexeville Jazz 
Orchestra, an eight-piece orchestra under the direction of 
Paul Matthews of Base Hospital 32. Other members 
were D. K. Jones, Lloyd Gleason and Joseph Duffy of 
Base Hospital 32 and Jesse Cantor, Maurice Robineau, 
Dan Griffin and Walter Onorato of Base Hospital 31. 
This organization played at Nancy, Toul, Bazoilles, 
Langres, Neufchateau and a number of other points. 

On October 30th the entire command turned out to wit- 
ness the presentation of the Distinguished Service Cross 
to one of the patients of Base Hospital 32. The ceremony 
took place on the Red Cross Athletic Field back of the 
Cosmopolitain. The decoration was awarded Lexie 
Downham of Jonesboro, Indiana, and was presented by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund D. Clark, as commanding 
officer of the hospital. Sixty men from the personnel were 
in formation in three platoons. 

It was on this date also that the following letter from 
Lieutenant-Colonel G. V. Rukke, commanding officer of 
the center, was posted on the headquarters' bulletin board 
and in all of the buildings: 

Headquarters, Hospital Center, A. P. O. 732 

October 30, 1918. 

General Orders No. 21 

I. The commanding officer of the Hospital Center, 
A. P. O. 732, wishes to express his appreciation of the 
service rendered the Allied cause by the members of the 



I02 A History of Base Hospital 32 

A. E. F. of this center during the recent emergency. The 
results obtained were highly gratifying, and show that the 
realization of a sense of duty has in this center kept pace 
with that of the men in the zone of advance. With the 
extreme shortage of personnel, inevitable during active 
offensive operations, and this personnel depleted through 
illness, over eight thousand one hundred patients were 
properly cared for at one time, and during a period of 
rapid evacuation of the sick and wounded out of this 
center. 

2. The spirit shown is what is winning the war. 

3. This order will be published on all bulletin boards. 
By order of Lt. Col. Rukke. 

A. C. Calish, 
ist Lieut, San. Corps, U. S. A., 
Adjutant. 

The period just prior to the armistice found the hos- 
pital experiencing another welcome lull. Occasional con- 
voys arrived, but as a result of the policy of rapid evacua- 
tion, the number of patients had been greatly reduced. 
The greatest possible number of vacant beds was main- 
tained and the hospital waited in readiness for the next 
drive, but it never came. 




MAIN SURGERY, HOSPITAL A 




DRESSING ROOM, HOSPITAL A 



IX 

The Surgical and Medical Sections 

IT IS necessary here to interrupt the chronology of 
events for a few chapters, and to discuss briefly some 
of the more important phases of the work of the surgical 
and medical sections, and of the various departments. 

The Surgical Section 

Under the original organization of the surgical service 
of Base Hospital 32, Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund D. 
Clark was appointed chief of the surgical section; Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Carleton B. McCulloch, officer in charge 
of Hospital A, and Major A. B. Graham, officer in charge 
of Hospital B. Following the transfer of Lieutenant- 
Colonel McCulloch, Lieutenant-Colonel Clark also acted 
as officer in charge of Hospital A. 

On June 15, 1918, when Lieutenant-Colonel Clark as- 
sumed command of the hospital, Major A. B. Graham 
succeeded him as chief of the surgical section and officer 
in charge of Hospital A, and Captain Joseph W. Ricketts 
was appointed officer in charge of Hospital B. The 
chief, and assistant chief surgical nurses ati Hospital A 
were Edna June Gray and Mayme C. Clickner, respec- 
tively. Miss Clickner also served as chief surgical nurse 
at Hospital B. Bertha B. Mahan was head nurse at Hos- 
pital B. 

Miss Charlotte Cathcart was in charge of the registra- 
tion of patients for the surgical buildings and directed 
the office work. 

Two hotel buildings constituted the surgical section. 
The larger hotel, Hospital A, familiarly known as the 

103 



I04 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Cosmopolitain, with a capacity of approximately 900 
beds, received the grande blesse or seriously wounded 
patients. The smaller hotel, the Paris, known officially 
as Hospital B, with a capacity of 275 beds, received the 
petite blesse or those whose wounds were regarded as of 
minor significance. With everything at their command 
for the performance of good work. Base Hospital 32 did 
not fall short of the mark, and a careful review of its 
statistics, which is not possible in this brief summary, will 
prove the excellent work that this organization accom- 
plished under the most trying and abnormal conditions. 

Surgical statistics, as a general rule, are of interest only 
to surgeons, and even to them they may at times prove 
somewhat uninteresting. However, to anyone who has 
served with a base hospital in the advance war zone, it 
matters not whether officer, private, nurse, or civilian, 
some general statistics of the surgical work accomplished, 
and a short review relative to the patients cared for, 
should prove of some interest Such statistics will help 
to recall not a few interesting incidents, and will show 
the gigantic work of which a well-organized base hos- 
pital is capable of performing. 

The records show that Base Hospital 32 received and 
cared for 5,719 surgical patients. Some of these had 
received previous surgical care in the evacuation or field 
hospitals, while many were admitted who had received 
first-aid care only. There were a few who had received 
no care whatever previous to admission in the hospital. 

Of these 5,719 surgical patients, there were fifty-eight 
deaths — a mortality rate of 1.14 per cent. Of these fifty- 
eight deaths, ten were moribund when they were removed 
from the ambulances. Nine died of pneumonia compli- 
cating their wounds. These deaths all occurred in Hos- 
pital A, the surgical hospital which cared for the grande 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 105 

blesse or seriously wounded patients. This building cared 
for 4,482 patients. In the smaller surgical hospital which 
received the petite blesse or minor wounds, it is a remark- 
able incident and worthy of record that 1,257 patients 
were cared for without a death. In private civilian work 
not a few of these so-called petite blesse cases would have 
been regarded as very serious. 

The rank of the 5,719 surgical patients was as follows: 

Privates 4,623 Nurses 23 

Non-commissioned officers 962 Civilians 17 

Commissioned officers ... 94 Total S 719 

It is well to state that in the town of Contrexeville, 
there were no available French physicians. While the 
hospital commandant had no authority for so doing, no 
French civilian was refused surgical care. The statistics 
show that but seventeen civilians were admitted to the 
surgical hospital, but it is no exaggeration to state that 
several hundred French civilians received surgical atten- 
tion in Base Hospital 32. It is exceedingly unfortunate 
that no record of these cases was kept, for if they could 
be added to the surgical statistics of the hospital, the 
number of surgical patients would exceed 6,000. It was 
a pleasure to care for this most appreciative class of 
patients who were in distress and whose only oppor- 
tunity for relief was through the hospitals of the United 
States Army. 

The surgical patients of Base Hospital 32 comprised 
thirty-one nationalities. They were as follows : 

Americans 4,493 Russians 76 

French 418 Belgians ." 32 

British 266 Poles 19 

Germans *198 Arabians 17 

Italians 101 Greeks 17 



♦Includes 189 enemy prisoners of war. 



io6 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Austrians 13 Dutch 2 

Canadians 13 Roumanians 2 

Swedes 10 Mexicans 

Danes 9 Persians 

Norwegians 9 Australians 

Algerians 3 Syrians 

Finns 3 Portuguese 

Moroccans 2 Armenians 

Serbians 4 Chinese 

Swiss 2 Crotes 



Hungarians 2 ^^^^^ 5^7^^ 

Of the 4,493 American patients, every state of the 
United States was represented. 

A study of the ages of the surgical patients is rather 
interesting. The youngest patient was six, and the oldest 
patient was sixty-four years of age. It must be remem- 
bered that Base Hospital 32 cared for the French civilians 
which accounts for the extreme variation in ages. There 
were three American soldiers whose ages were fifteen, 
and there were several whose ages were beyond the half- 
century mark. 

Forty-two per cent of the patients were between the 
ages of twenty-two and twenty-four. Ninety-three per 
cent of the patients were between the ages of nineteen 
and thirty-one. 

The following is an accurate record of the ages of the 
surgical patients admitted to Base Hospital 32: 



Age 


Number 


Age 


Number 


Age 


Number 


6 


2 


22 


861 


32 


106 


7 


1 


23 


851 


33 


34 


10 


1 


24 


650 


34 


40 


15 


3 


25 


383 


35 


55 


16 


2 


26 


404 


36 


42 


17 


12 


27 


311 


37 


25 


18 


66 


28 


294 


38 


17 


19 


279 


29 


245 


39 


17 


20 


297 


30 


252 


40 


4 


21 


302 


31 


141 


41 


8 




rilAKMA( \'. HOSPITAL A 




k1 


___J^--! *i4lJRl 


■ 


u 








^ W 




%l 



MEDICAL SUPPLY ROOISI, HOSPITAL A 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 107 



Age 


Number 


Age 


Number 


Age 


Number 


42 


6 


47 


1 


54 


1 


43 


11 


49 


1 


60 


1 


44 


6 


52 


1 


64 


1 


45 


6 


53 


1 


Tr.t^. 


^1 c 710 



A review or study of the surgical conditions cared for 
is exceedingly interesting. In numbers it will be noted 
that they exceed the number of patients received by the 
hospital. This is explained by the fact that not a few of 
the patients were suffering with multiple wounds. No- 
where are the horrors of modern warfare more vividly 
portrayed than in a base hospital where full opportunity 
is afforded for the careful study and treatment of each 
and every patient. The following statistics of the surgical 
patients treated in Base Hospital 32 are not to be consid- 
ered absolutely accurate, as they are the diagnoses taken 
from the cards of the patients upon admission to the hos- 
pital. Unfortunately it is impossible to furnish accurate 
statistics of the surgical conditions, diagnosed and treated, 
after these patients had been under observation. How- 
ever, the statistics of the first diagnosis, or the diagnosis 
made at the field or evacuation hospital, are of sufficient 
interest to warrant their publication. 

Gunshot wounds, and this comprises bullet, shell and 
grenade wounds, were responsible for the majority of 
our patients. The number of patients and injury are as 
follows : 

Wounds Number Wounds Number 

Axilla 13 Buttock 137 

Head 263 Back 238 

Chest 165 Thigh 627 

Shoulder 346 Leg 675 

Abdomen 103 Foot 365 

Arm 558 Face 215 

Forearm 138 Neck 98 

Hand 640 Knee 162 



io8 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Wounds Number Wounds Number 

Elbow 49 Bladder 3 

Spine 19 Scrotum 14 

Ankle 38 

Two hundred and forty-seven patients were treated for 
burns resulting from gas and liquid fire. 

A summary of the other surgical conditions cared for 
is as follows : 

Trench feet 67 Appendicitis 78 

Flat feet 78 Gall bladder 7 

Sprains (mostly ankle) . . . 182 Kidney 1 

*Nose, throat and ear 338 Amputations 28 

*Fractures 312 Rectal operations 90 

*Teeth 45 Dislocations 23 

*Eye 315 Infected wounds 117 

Hernia 1 12 

The Medical Section 

While the average person is more apt to regard sur- 
gical work as the principal function of a war hospital 
the work of the medical section was, nevertheless, equally 
important. In considering this phase of the hospital's 
activity it is well to remember that in almost every war 
more soldiers die of disease than of wounds — and A. E. F. 
hospital statistics prove that this war was no exception. 

The medical work at Base Hospital 32 was under the 
direction of Major Bernays Kennedy, who served as chief 
of the medical section from the time the hospital opened 
until after the armistice. Included on Major Kennedy's 
staff were Major John F. Herrick, officer in charge of 
Hospital C; Captain Robert M. Moore, officer in charge 
of Hospital D, and Captain Frank M. Fuller, officer 
in charge of Hospital E. Captain Leslie Maxwell also 
served for a time as officer in charge of Hospital E. The 
head nurses of the three medical section buildings were: 

^Incomplete. 




ORTHOPEDIC CASES, HOSPITAL A 




A FRENCH GENERAL ON AN INSPECTION TOUR OF THE HOSPITALS 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 109 

Hospital C, Eleanor C. Ryan; Hospital D, Elizabeth 
Backinger, and Hospital E, Helen Biggert. The office 
work and records of patients for the medical section were 
in charge of Miss Gertrude Steffen. 

The medical service of Base Hospital 32 cared for a 
total of 4,345 patients, of whom 3,881 were members of 
the A. E. F. Perhaps never before has an army fighting 
under one flag been recruited from so many different 
countries. Of the 3,881 patients of the American Army, 
91 per cent were American born and every state but one 
in the union was represented. 

Major-General Bell, in a talk to officers and nurses on 
board the George Washington on our way to France, said 
that of the three requisites of a good soldier, the one he 
probably exercised the most was that of always grum- 
bling. His words were often recalled by the conversa- 
tions of convalescing soldiers who, in lieu of grumbling, 
indulged in heated but amusing arguments as to the 
relative merit and patriotism of their native states. As 
a court of last appeal they would inquire at the office of 
the medical service as to the relative number of patients 
the hospital had treated from the states under discussion. 
The champion of the state showing the smallest number 
of patients on a given number of pages in the Register 
usually closed the argument by declaring that the native 
sons of his particular state had sense enough to keep their 
heads down or were good dodgers. We can only conclude 
that the sons of Nevada, the only state not represented in 
the roster of patients treated in the medical service, were 
the best dodgers in the whole A. E. F. 

The other 9 per cent of the patients of the A. E. F. 
represent thirty-five countries, and of the entire number 
of these patients there were only seven who could not give 
a birthplace. 



no 



A History of Base Hospital 32 



For the benefit of those who feel that the honor and 
patriotism of their native state is at stake the following 
table is given : 

Medical Service — Base Hospital 32 



A. E. F. Patients 



Alabama 106 

Arkansas 2 

Arizona 36 

California 41 

Colorado 11 

Connecticut 36 

Delaware 1 

District of Columbia 7 

Florida 28 

Georgia 89 

Idaho 2 

Illinois 180 

Indiana 272 

Iowa 155 

Kansas 60 

Kentucky 89 

Louisiana 24 

Maine 25 

Maryland 75 

Massachusetts 1 19 

Michigan 69 

Minnesota 108 

Mississippi 34 

Missouri 138 

Montana 12 

Nebraska 22 

Nevada 

New Hampshire ... 26 

New Jersey 82 

New Mexico 3 

New York 409 

North Carolina .... 60 

North Dakota 13 

Ohio 215 

Oklahoma 17 

Oregon 14 

Pennsylvania 379 

Rhode Island 14 

South Carolina .... 78 

South Dakota 23 

Tennessee 76 



Texas 65 

Utah 14 

Vermont 12 

Virginia 102 

Washington 15 

West Virginia 56 

Wisconsin 114 

Wyoming 5 

Total number born 
in United States 

Albania 1 

Argentine Republic. 1 

Armenia 1 

Austria 6 

Belgium 4 

Bermuda 3 

Bohemia 2 

British West Indies. 1 

Canada 19 

Cuba 1 

Denmark 5 

England 15 

Finland 4 

France 1 

Germany 2 

Greece 6 

Hawaii 3 

Holland 3 

Hungary 3 

Italy 118 

Ireland 32 

Mexico 1 

Montenegro 2 

Moravia 1 

Newfoundland .... 2 

Norway 7 

Poland 14 

Porto Rico 2 

Portugal 2 



3,533 



The Surgical and Medical Sections hi 

Russia 57 British patients .... 12 

Scotland 11 „ i 

Sweden 8 French patients- 
Switzerland 1 Algeria 1 

Tunis 1 Arabia 1 

Wales 1 French 435 

Indo China 4 

Total number for- India 1 

eign born 341 Italy 3 

No information of Senegal 7 

birthplace 7 452 



Total number pa- Total number pa- 
tients, A. E. F. 3,881 tients 4,345 

Unfortunately the nativity of patients of the French 
army was not given in a good many cases, as this was not 
required on the French card of admission, so a general 
heading of France as a birthplace was given to those 
French patients. However, at one time in Hospital E, 
the Providence, where most of the French patients were 
cared for, eleven different nationalities occupied one 
ward, most of them being soldiers of the colonial and 
territorial troops. 

In making the following classification of patients cared 
for by the medical service, the eighteen subdivisions of 
the sick and wounded report for the A. E. F., which were 
followed by Base Hospital 32, have been used. The classi- 
fication is particularly difficult for the reason that many 
diagnoses were changed two, three, or more times, as the 
progress of the disease advanced or as complications de- 
veloped of more severity than the original cause of admis- 
sion. Practically every disease enumerated in the sick 
and wounded report was encountered, and quite a few 
which the report overlooked. 

I — Infectious and Epidemic Diseases 

Diphtheria 6 

-{-emphysema, ch. ; pulmonary 1 

+gas 1- 8 



112 



A History of Base Hospital 32 



Diphtheria carrier 2 

Dysentery 18 

+D. A. H 

bacillary 

entamoebic 

entamoebic (secondary to iliocoHtis) 

Flexner type 

suspect 

Influenza 1,020 

+acne vulgaris 

-f-amputation, right foot (perforating 
wound) 

+angioneurosis ; -foedema, right hand and 
arm 

-{-appendicitis, acute 

-j-arthritis, acute, rheumatic 

-f-bronchitis, acute 

-j-diarrhoea 

-j-dysentery 

-j-enteritis, acute 

-|-enterocolitis, acute 

-1-flat foot 

-j-flat foot, -f-pyodermia (abscess, neck) . . 

+gas 

-j-gas, -[-flat foot 

-j-gonorrhoeal opthalmia 

-\-G. S. W 

-f-hernia ; femoral, left 

-j-hernia ; inguinal, bilateral 

-j-laryngitis 

-{-mastoiditis, acute, left 

-{-mitral deficiency 

-{-mitral stenosis 

-{-mumps, bilateral, -{-orchitis, left 

-{-nephritis, acute 

-{-orchitis, chronic 

-{-otitis media, acute, suppurative, left 

-{-otitis media, chronic, catarrhal, bilateral. 

-{-otitis media, chronic, catarrhal, right .... 

-{-otitis media, chronic, suppurative, bilat- 
eral 

-{-perirectal abscess 

-{-pes cavus 

-{-pleurisy, acute, fibrinous 

-{-psoriasis 

-j-pyodermia 

-{-pyorrhoea 

-{-retinitis, left 



24 
4 




PERSONNEL HOSPITAL E 




IIOSI'ITAL E, HOTEL IJE LA PRON'IUEXe E 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 113 

Influenza — 

+rheumatic fever 1 

-j-scabies 6 

-[-sciatica, left 1 

-}-syphilis, tertiary 1 

-j-tonsillitis, acute, left 2 

-j-tonsillitis, chronic, hypertrophic 1 

(observation for tuberculosis) 6 — 1,088 

Malaria 13 

(following influenza) 2 — 15 

Measles 1 — 1 

Meningitis, meningococcus 3 — 3 

Mumps, bilateral 21 

-(-bronchitis, acute 2 

4-gas 1 

-{-influenza 1 

-j-orchitis, bilateral 1 

-j-orchitis, unilateral 6 

-[-rheumatism, muscular 1 

Mumps, unilateral 9 

-j-orchitis, unilateral 1 — 43 

Paratyphoid fever. Type A 1 — 1 

Poliomyelitis, acute, anterior 1 — 1 

Purulent infection; septicaemia, hand, left 1 — 1 

Rheumatic fever, acute 14 

-f- inflammation, knee, right 1 — 15 

Scarlet fever 6 

(following influenza) 2 

H-G. S. W., leg, left 1 

-j-nephritis 1 

-j-nephritis, post-scarlatinal 2 

-j-nephritis, 4-D. A, H., post-scarlatinal... 1 — 13 

Trench fever 4 

-f-gastritis, acute 1 — 5 

Typhoid fever 9 

(following influenza) 5 

-f-myostosis 1 

-j-urethritis, acute, gonorrhoeal (old) 1 — 16 

Vincent's Angina 1 — 1 — 1,241 

II — Tuberculosis 

Larynx, tuberculosis of, chronic 1 — 1 

Pulmonary tuberculosis 6 

-j-diabetes mellitis 1 

-j-empyema (drained) 1 

acute 2 

acute, miliary 1 



114 



A History of Base Hospital 32 



Pulmonary tuberculosis — 

chronic 

chronic, insipient 

chronic, moderately advanced, 
suspects (observation) 



4 
3 
2 
6— 



26— 27 



III — Venereal Diseases 

Gonococcus infection 

orchitis, +gas, yperite, contact 

urethritis, acute 

urethritis, acute, +arthritis 

urethritis, acute, -fgas 

Syphilis 

myositis 

neuritis, sciatica, left 

4-tonsillitis, acute, catarrhal, bilateral .... 

secondary 

tertiary 

tertiary, cerebrovascular 

tertiary, cerebrospinal 

tertiary, cerebral 



IV — General Diseases 



Alcoholism, acute 
Anemia 



pernicious , 

Arthritis 

hand, right 

hip, right 

hip and leg, right 

knee, right , 

legs, bilateral , 

sacro-iliac joint 

4-diarrhea 

+dental treatment 

-|-flat foot , 

-|-old operative pain , 

-j-pyrrhoea 

acute 

acute, ankle, left 

acute, ankle, right 

acute, hip, left 

acute, hip, left, -fsyphilis 

acute, hip, left, -[-varicose veins . 

acute, knees, bilateral 

acute, knee, right 

acute, migratory 



19 



— 7 



— 15— 22 

— 1 

— 2 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 115 



Arthritis — 

acute, multiple 18 

acute, multiple, infectious 1 

acute, multiple, -f-bronchitis, acute 1 

acute, muscular 4 

acute, -}-hypertrophied tonsils 2 

acute, articular 14 

acute, articular, elbow, right 2 

acute, articular, multiple 12 

acute, articular, +tonsillitis, acute, follicular 4 

chronic, 4 

chronic, ankle, left 

chronic, diffused 

chronic, foot, left, -f-complete deafness, left 

chronic, hip, left 

chronic, hip, right 

chronic, hip, left, -f-urinary incontinence... 

chronic, knee, bilateral 

chronic, knee, left 

chronic, multiple 12 

chronic, multiple (myocitis) 

chronic, multiple, -f-scabies 

chronic, muscular 

subacute, articular 

subacute, iliosacral, bilateral 

subacute, multiple 

Diabetes mellitus (following influenza) 

+arthritis, ac, shoulder, left 

Drug habit, cocaine poisoning 

Goiter 

+psychoneurosis 

hyperthyroidism, severe 

Purpura hemorrhagica 

Toxic results of preventive therapy — 

Reaction to novarsenobenzol 

Serum sickness 



V — Nervous Diseases 

Chorea 

Epilepsy 

(observation for) 

Migraine 

Neuralgia, cranial 

intercostal 

ovarian 

sciatic 

sciatic, -|-lumbar contracture 

sciatic, -f- tonsillitis, chronic 



14 



— 147 

— 2 

— 1 



— 2— 159 



ii6 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Neuralgia, cranial — 

supraorbital 2 — 24 

Neuritis 1 

arm, right 1 

suspected cervical plexus 1 

sciatic 2 5 

Palsey, arm, left (cause N. Y. D.) 1 

face (cause N. Y. D.) • • 2— 3 

Paralysis, arm, left, traumatic 1 

arm, right, functional 1 

facial 2 

paraplegia, ataxia 1 — 5 

Tabes dorsalis 2 — 2 — 50 

VI — Mental Diseases and Defects 

Constitutional psychopathic state 1 — 1 

Defective Mental Development 6 — 6 

Dementia precox 1 — 1 

Mental deficiency 7 

-j-scabies 1 

Mental and physical deficiency 3 — 1 1 

Mental observation 17 — 17 

Psychoneurosis, Type N. Y. D 64 

hysteria - 1 1 

neurasthenia 14 

psychasthenia (syphilitic) 1 

traumatic 1 

war 1— 92 

Psychosis, Type N. Y, D 2 

alcoholic 6 

hysterical 2 

toxic (influenza) 1 

manic depressive ; dementia 2 — 13 

Neuropsychosis 1 — 1 

Neurosis, Type N. Y. D 3 

anxiety 4 

cardiac 1 

depressive 1 

hysteria 1 

war 2— 12— 154 

VII — Diseases of the Eye 

Conjunctivitis 4 

+hemoptysis 1 

-j-herpes, -j-flat foot 1 — 6 

Defective vision 3 — 3 — 9 




PERSONNEL HOSPITAL B 




HOSPITAL B, HOTEL DE PARIS 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 117 

VIII — Diseases of the Ear 

Otitis, externa, celumen, right 1 — 1 

media, acute, left 1 

media, acute, bilateral 2 

media, acute, bilateral, -j-^ronchitis, acute.. 1 

media, chronic, suppurative, right 1 

media, chronic (Bezold's abscess), right... 1 — 6 

Deafness 1 — 1 — 8 

IX — Diseases of the Nose 

Deviation of nasal septum 1 — 1 

Epistaxis 1 — 1 

Sinusitis, frontal, chronic 2 — 2 — 4 

X — Diseases of the Throat 

Abscess, peritonsillar, right 1 — 1 

Hypertrophied tonsils 1 — 1 

Laryngitis, acute 6 

acute (observation for tuberculosis) 1 

acute, catarrhal 1 

chronic _• • • • 3 — 1 1 

Pharyngitis, acute 2 

chronic 1 — 3 

Tonsillitis, acute 13 

acute, catarrhal 19 

acute, catarrhal, -)-ankylestomasis 1 

acute, catarrhal, -f-bronchitis, acute, ca- 
tarrhal 2 

acute, catarrhal, -(-mumps 1 

acute, follicular 26 

acute, follicular, -[-exhaustion 1 

follicular, -|-lymphadenitis, cervical, ch., rt. 1 — 64 
chronic, hypertrophic, -1-laryngitis, -|-bron- 

chitis 1— 1— 81 

XI — Circulatory System 

Diseases of the Heart — 

Angina pectoris 2 

+bronchitis 1 — 3 

Asthma, cardiac, chronic 1 — 1 

Cardiac dilatation (following trench fever) 1 — 1 

Disordered heart action 4 

(following bronchitis) 1 

Tachycardia 8 

paroxysmal 1 



ii8 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Diseases of the Heart, Disordered heart action — 

Arhythmia 1 

(following influenza) 1 

respiratory, paroxysmal 1 

toxic, paroxysmal 1 — 18 

Endocarditis, acute 1 

acute (following influenza) 1 

acute, mitral and aortic 1 

acute, +rheumatism, acute 1 

chronic 1 — 5 

Myocarditis, acute 2 

chronic 2 

chronic (following bronchitis) 1 

chronic (following influenza) 1 

chronic (observation for exophthalmic 

goiter) 1 — 7 

Valvular heart disease 2 

Aortic insufficiency 2 

Mitral insufiiciency 5 

Mitral murmur, +pleuro-pulmonary 

congestion 1 

stenosis, +rheumatic fever, acute 1 — 11 

Diseases of the Blood Vessels — 

Hemorrhoids 4 

internal and external, -j-anal fissure. . . 1 — 5 

Phlebitis, non-phlegmonous 1 — 1 

Varicose veins (following influenza) 1 — 1 

Varicocele, left 2 — 2 

Diseases of the Lymphatic System — 

lymphadenitis, acute 2 

chronic 1 

cervical 2 

cervical, +bronchitis, -1-diarrhoea 1 

cervical, -j-gas, inhalation 1 

4-gastritis 1 

inguinal 1 

submaxillary, chronic 1 

suppurative 1 

tubercular, non-suppurative 1 — 12 — 67 

XH — Diseases of Respiratory System 

Asthma 

Bronchitis, acute 177 

acute, +angina 1 

acute, -[-congestion of lungs (following gas) 1 

acute, -j-diarrhoea 1 

acute, -j-enteritis, acute, catarrhal 2 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 119 

Bronchitis — 

acute, +epistaxis 1 

acute, -j-flat foot 1 

acute, -j-gas 1 

acute, +G. S. W. 1 

acute, -(-hyperacidity 1 

acute, -j-keratitis, acute 1 

acute, -[-laryngitis, acute 1 

acute, -[-laryngitis, subacute, catarrhal 1 

acute, -j-mitral insufficiency (following gas) 1 
acute, -j-otitis media, chronic, catarrhal, bi- 
lateral 1 

acute, -{-pediculosis corporis 1 

acute, -[-pleurisy, acute, fibrinous 1 

acute, -[-pleurisy, with effusion ; right 1 

acute, -j-urethritis, acute, gonorrhoeal 1 

acute, catarrhal 29 

acute, catarrhal, -|-myocarditis, chronic ( fol- 
lowing influenza) 1 

acute, purutent, bilateral 1 

chronic 32 

chronic, -f D. A. H 2 

chronic, -[-emphysema 4 

chronic, -j-hemoptysis 1 

chronic, -j-scabies 1 

chronic, (observation for pulmonary tuber- 
culosis) 10 

chronic, catarrhal 2 — 279 

Bronchiectasis 1 — 1 

Broncho-pneumonia 66 

following influenza) 67 

following influenza) , -j-D. A. H 1 

[ following influenza) , -[-empyema 2 

following influenza), -\-G. S. W 2 

following influenza), -[-hernia, inguinal, bi- 
lateral 1 

following influenza), -[-mastoiditis 1 

[ following influenza ) , -(-meningitis ( pneu- 

mococcus) 1 

' following gas) 4 

following gas), -\-G. S. W 1 

-{-arthritis 2 

-[-diarrhoea 1 

-fG. S. W 2 

-[-hemorrhoids, -[-epididymitis ; right 1 

-j-mumps 1 

-[-nephritis, acute (following exposure) ... 1 

-[-peritoneal abscess 1 



120 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Broncho-pneumonia — 

+pleurisy, acute ; right 1 

-[-pleurisy, serofibrinous 1 

-j-pleurisy, serofibrinous (with effusion)... 1 

-{-pneumothorax, -[-empyema 1 

-j-purpura hemorrhagica 1 

-j-typhoid fever 1 

Type II, -j-gas 1 — 162 

Pneumonia, lobar 34 

(following influenza) 6 

(following influenza) -j-empyema 2 

-)-empyema 2 

-j-empyema, -|-pneumothorax, left 1 

(with effusion) 1 — 46 

Pleurisy, empyema (following influenza) 1 — 1 

Pleurisy 27 

(with effusion) 3 

acute, plastic (following influenza)... 2 

serofibrinous 12 — 44 

Pleuritic adhesions 2 

-f-constipation 1 

-|-diarrhoea 1 — 4 

Thickened pleura 1 — 1 



50— 542 



XIII — Digestive 
Diseases of Mouth — 

Abscess, alveolar 1 — 1 

Dental treatment 2 — 2 



Diseases of Stomach — 

Gastritis, acute Z7 

acute, -]-inf ected feet 1 

acute, -f-otitis media, chronic 2 

acute, -j-neuralgia, occipital 1 

acute, catarrhal 7 

acute, catarrhal (due to pyorrhoea)... 1 
acute, catarrhal (due to pyorrhoea al- 

veolaris and Vincent's angina) ... 1 

chronic 3 

chronic, -[-dyspepsia 1 — 54 

Gastroenteritis, acute 51 

acute, +G. S. W 4 

acute, -j-mumps 1 

acute, -j- renal colic 1 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 121 

Diseases of Stomach, Gastroenteritis — 

acute, catarrhal 6 

acute, catarrhal, -j-flat foot 1 

acute, catarrhal, +tonsillitis, acute .... 1 

acute, dietetic 1 

acute, dietetic, 4-lyniphadenitis, axillary, 

right 1 

chronic 2 

chronic, catarrhal 2 — 71 

Gastralgia 1 — 1 

Gastric Ulcer 1 — 1 

127 
Diseases of the Intestines — 

Appendicitis, acute 3 

acute (following influenza) 1 

chronic 3 

chronic, -{-cholecystitis, ch., catarrhal.. 1 

post-operative 1 — 9 

Colitis, acute 5 

chronic 2 — 7 

Constipation 1 — 1 

Diarrhoea, -f scabies 2 

acute 40 

acute, -[-cephalgia 1 

chronic 1 

fermentative 3 — 47 

Enteritis, acute 48 

acute, -{-adenitis, inguinal, bilateral .... 1 

acute, -j-arthritis, multiple 3 

acute, -j-bronchitis 2 

acute, -{-concussion, shell 1 

acute, -{-gonorrhoea 1 

acute, catarrhal 24 

acute, catarrhal, -{-intermittent scabies. 1 

acute, dietetic 3 

chronic 4 — 88 

Enterocolitis, acute 60 

acute, -{-appendicitis, chronic . .^ 1 

acute, -{-exhaustion 1 

acute, -{-gastritis, acute 1 

acute, -KG. S. W 1 

acute, -{-hemorrhoids 2 

acute, -{-lumbago 1 

acute, -{-psoriasis (cause N. Y. D.) ... 1 

acute, -{-sprain of knee 1 

acute, catarrhal 8 



122 



A History of Base Hospital 32 



Diseases of the Intestines, Enterocolitis — 

acute, dietetic 5 

subacute 

Hernia 

inguinal, right 

Iliocolitis, acute 

acute, -farthritis, acute, multiple 

acute, dietetic 

acute, dietetic, +iiifluenza 

chronic 

Intestinal adhesions 

-{-autointoxication 

Intestinal Parasites — 

Ankylostomiasis 

Tapeworm, saginitta 

Hookworm 

Intestinal Stasis 

Ulcer of duodenum 



3— 

2 

2— 



2— 



85 
4 

5 
2 



254 
Diseases of the Liver and Gall Bladder — 

Cholecystitis, acute 7 

acute, +jaundice 9 

acute, catarrhal 2 — 18 

Cirrhosis of liver, hyertrophic (following 

influenza) 1 — 

Congestion of liver, -f-cardio-renal sclerosis 1 — 

Functional derangement of liver 1 — 



1 
1 
1 

21 



Diseases of Spleen — 

Splenic anemia (Bante's disease) 1 — 1 

Peritoneal abscess . . , , , 1 — 1 — 407 



XIV — Genito-Urinary (Non-Venereal) 

Diseases of the Kidneys and Annexa — 

Hematuria 2 

-j-renal stone 1 — 

Nephritis, albuminuria 3 

albuminuria, -[-ecthyma, leg, right.... 1 

acute, 4 

acute (following exposure) 1 

chronic 1 

chronic, -f-ga^stritis, acute, catarrhal 

-[-pyrrhoea alveolaris) 1 

glucosuria 1 

uremia 1 — 



13 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 123 



Diseases of the Kidneys and Annexa — 

Pyelitis, acute 1 — 

Polycystic degeneration of kidneys 1 — 

Diseases of the Bladder — 

Cystitis, acute 1 

hemorrhagic 1 — 

Urinary incontinence A — 

Diseases of the Urethra — 

Stricture 2 — 

Urethritis 1 — 

Diseases of the Prostate — 

Prostatitis 1 — 

Non-Venereal Diseases of the Genital Organs — 

Epididymitis, acute 1 — 

Orchitis, acute, bilateral 3 

acute, left, +atrophy of testicle, left. . 1 

chronic, right 1 

traumatic (kicked by horse) 1 — 



1 
1 

18 



35 



XV — Diseases of Skin 

Acne, severe, back and chest 1 — 

vulgaris 1 — 

Dermatitis (cause N. Y. D.) 2 

paputo-macular, acute 1 

traumatic 3 — 

Eczema 10 

+pomphlox, chronic 1 — 

Dermo-epidermitis 1 — 

Folliculitis 2 — 

Intertriga 2 — 

Gangrene ; Raynaud's disease 1 — 

Herpes zoster 1 — 

Psoriasis 8 — 

Pyodermia 7 

abscess, dental 1 

abscess, foot, left 2 

abscess, neck 1 

abscess, scapula, right 1 

abscess, shoulder, left 1 



11 
1 
2 
2 
1 
1 
8 



124 



A History of Base Hospital 32 



Pyodermia — 

blisters, heels 

cellulitis 

cellulitis, infective, legs, bilateral 

ecthyma " 

furunculosis, multiple, -j-^czema. 

furunculosis, -j-adenitis, -fcellulitis, neck. . 

impetigo 

impetigo, contagiosa 

impetigo, -)- furunculosis 

ulcers, heels, +cellulitis, legs 

ulcers, heels, -|-rheumatism, chronic 

Scabies 

+gastritis 

+G. S. W 

-j-internal hemorrhoids 

+mumps 

Seborrhoea 

impetigo 

Urticaria, acute, +G. S. W 

acute, +nephritis, acute 

Skin eruption (cause N. Y. D.) 



38 



— 32 



— 42 

— 4 

— 2 

— 2 

— 1— 115 



XVI — Bones and Organs of Locomotion 

Diseases of the Bones — 

Periostitis, foot, left 1 — 

Diseases of the Joints — 

Arthritis (see General Diseases). 

Synovitis, acute, knee, left 3 

chronic, knee, right 1 

subacute, knee, left 1 

subacute, knee, bilateral 1 

traumatic 1 — 

Miscellaneous Diseases of Organs of Locomotion — 

Flat foot 10— 

Lumbago, acute 18 

chronic 1 — 

Metatarsalgia 1 — 

Myositis 1 — 

Sore feet 1 — 

Tenosynovitis 1 — 

Trench foot (open blisters) 1 — 

Abrasion, feet 5 — 

Wound, infected, suppurating, foot 2 — 



10 



19 



41— 49 




PERSONNEL HOSPITAL D 




lln>l'li\vL IJ, 1<()\AL HOTEL 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 125 

XVII — Malformations, Ill-Defined Diseases 

Acquired Malformations — 

Adhesions, post-operative 1 — 1 

Cicatrix, traumatic, axilla, left 1 — 1 

Contusions, back, shell explosion 5 

multiple, shell explosion 1 

scrotum ; kick of horse 1 — 7 

Difficulty in walking, old trauma 1 — 1 

Shock, traumatic (injury to back) 1 — 1 

Spinal curvature, -{-arthritis 1 — 1 

Strain, muscular, back (due to lifting) .... 1 

Strain, muscular, side, right (due to lifting) 1 — 2 

14 
Diseases Not Specified or Ill-Defined — 

Cyst, cheek, left 1 — 1 

Eneuresis, traumatic 1 — 1 

Myalgia, acute 3 

acute, -j-bronchitis, acute 1 

acute, dififused 1 

acute, intercostal, right, (old G. S. W.) 1 

acute, interscapular 1 

acute, lumbar 2 

acute, multiple 7 

chronic, back 1 — 17 

Myasthenia 1 — 1 

Myolitis, traumatic 1 — 1 

Myostosis, acute 1 

acute, legs, -f arthritis, multiple (fol- 
lowing influenza) 1 

acute, multiple 1 

acute, spinal 1 — 4 

Pain, multiple 1 • 

muscular 4 — 5 

Scoliosis, lateral, left 1 — 1 

31 

No Disease, Feigned Disease — 

F. U. 33 

General physical debility 3 

Malingering 1 

No disease found 1 

N. Y. D. (undiagnosed) 42 

Observation 2 

Reclassification 4 

Transfer to sursfical service 9 — 95 — 140 



126 



A History of Base Hospital 32 



XVIII — External Causes 

Concussion 8 

+gas 2 

accidental, from fall 2 

by explosion 17 

shell 43 

shell, -j-exhaustion 2 

shell, -j-gas 4 

shell, -j-gonorrhoea, chronic 1 

shell, -|-scabies 2 

recurrent 1- 

Dislocation, wrist, lifting 1- 

Effect of heat and cold — 

Sunstroke 1 

BHstered feet, from sun 1- 

Exhaustion 31 

+hysteria 1 

-j-pyodermatitis, legs 1 

blistered feet 1 

contusions 1 

dental condition 1 

diarrhoea 3 

exposure 7 

gas, mustard 1 

G. S. W 1 

nervous 12 

overexertion 16 

overexertion, +gas, arsene 3 

overexertion, exposure and immaturity (15 

years) 

(observation for pulmonary tuberculosis).. 

Gas, N. Y. D ; 273 

N. Y. D., +concussion, shell 3 

N. Y. D., -j-endocarditis, chronic 

N. Y. D., -j-fissure, anus 

N. Y. D., -|-foreign body, hand, right 

N. Y. D., -j-gastritis, acute 

N. Y. D., -j-goiter, simple 

N.Y.D., +G. S. W 

N. Y. D., -j-hemorrhoids, internal 

N. Y. D., -|-hernia, inguinal, left 

N. Y. D., -|-malaria 

N. Y. D., -j-sprain, ankle, right 

N. Y. D., -ftrachoma 

N. Y. D., -j-varicocele 

N. Y. D., contact 3 

N. Y, D., contact, +abscess under arm 



82 
1 



81 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 127 

Gas, N. Y. D.— 

N. Y. D., contact, +ethmoiditis, -(-inflam- 
mation, antrum, right 1 

N. Y. D., contact, +trench feet 1 

N. Y. D., inhalation 150 

N. Y, D., inhalation, +enteritis 1 

N. Y. D., inhalation, -j-exhaustion 1 

N. Y. D., inhalation, +G. S. W 2 

N. Y. D., inhalation, -f-influenza 1 

N. Y. D., inhalation, -)-talopes valgus 1 

N. Y. D., contact and inhalation 56 

N. Y. D., contact and inhalation, -[-asthma . 1 

arsene 8 

arsene, 4-exhaustion, overexertion 1 

arsene, inhalation 3 

arsene, inhalation, -{-influenza 1 

arsene, contact and inhalation 1 

chlorine 1 

chlorine, accidental 2 

chlorine, inhalation 3 

Chloro-picrine 6 

lachrymose 1 

mixed 1 

mixed, contact 7 

mixed, inhalation 7 

mixed, contact and inhalation 19 

mixed, contact and inhalation, -j-exhaustion 1 
mixed, contact and inhalation, -j-influenza. . 1 
mixed, contact and inhalation, -\- neuropsy- 
chosis 1 

mixed, contact and inhalation, -f-psychoneu- 

rosis 1 

mustard 108 

mustard, -j-exhaustion 1 

mustard, -f G. S. W 2 

mustard, -j-pterygium 1 

mustard, contact 65 

mustard, inhalation 50 

mustard, inhalation, -j-psychoneurosis 1 

mustard, contact and inhalation 129 

mustard, contact and inhalation, -{-flat foot 1 
mustard, contact and inhalation, -j-hemor- 

rhoids 1 

phosgene 24 

phosgene, -j-G. S. W 1 

phosgene, inhalation 31 

phosgene, inhalation, -j-influenza 1 

phosgene, inhalation, -[-hemorrhoids 1 



128 



A History of Base Hospital 32 



Gas, N. Y. D.— 

phosgene, contact and inhalation 2 

yperite 6 

yperite, contact ■ 3 

yperite, inhalation 1 

yperite, contact and inhalation 19 — 1,049 

Sprains, ankle 3 

ankle (iron falling on foot) 

knee, right 

ligament, inguinal, left 

shoulder, lifting box 1 — 7 

G. S. W., arm, right 2 

back 

breast 

hand 

head 

knee, left 

leg, right 

multiple 

wrist, left 

Shrapnel, head 



Grand total 



— 12 
- 1—1,235 

4,345 



Of the 4,345 patients cared for by the medical service, 
there were only fifty deaths, or i.o8 per cent, of whom 
forty-nine were members of the A. E. F. and one a French 
soldier. 

The following table will show what part the Influenza 
epidemic played in the death rate of the medical service : 



Deaths 
Broncho-pneumonia 6 

Broncho-pneumonia, following gas inhalation 3 

Broncho-pneumonia, following bronchitis, acute 2 

Broncho-pneumonia, following la grippe (French) 1 

Broncho-pneumonia, following influenza 22 

Broncho-pneumonia, following influenza and gas 

Diabetes mellitus and pulmonary tuberculosis 

Gas inhalation, yperite 

Influenza , . 

Lobar pneumonia 

Lobar pneumonia, following influenza 3 

Lobar pneumonia, with empyema, following influenza 1 




PERSONNEL HOSPITAL C 




HOSPITAL C, HOTEL DE LA PROVIDENCE ANNEX 



The Surgical and Medical Sections 



129 



Lobar pneumonia, pneumothorax and emphysema 

Meningitis, meningococcus 

Meningitis, pneumococcus, following broncho-pneumonia fol- 
lowing gas 

Nephritis, acute, following broncho-pneumonia 

Nephritis, acute, following influenza 

Typhoid fever, following influenza 

Tuberculosis, pulmonary, following bronchitis, acute 



Total 50 



The following is a table of the rank of patients treated 
in the medical service: 



Captain 

First lieutenant . . 
Second lieutenant 

Chaplain 

Nurse 

Civilian employe . 



12 
35 
18 

2 
66 

2 



Sergeant 262 

Corporal 411 

Private 3,528 

Y. M. C. A 2 

French civilian 7 

Total 4,345 



The age of patients ranged from three years to fifty-one 
years, the younger ones being French civilians. How- 
ever, a number of members of the A. E. F. were fifteen to 
eighteen years of age, and 57 per cent were between the 
ages of twenty-two and twenty-six. The following table 
throws some interesting light on the age of our fight- 
ing men : 

Age of Patients 



Age 


N^umber 


Age 


Number 


Age 




!>Jumber 


3 (civilian) 


1 


27 


261 


40 




18 


5 (civilian) 


1 


28 


242 


41 




13 


15 


2 


29 


178 


42 




8 


17 


7 


30 


164 


43 




3 


18 


36 


31 


131 


44 




7 


19 


153 


32 


95 


45 




6 


20 


. 204 


33 


36 


46 




3 


21 


. 224 


34 


38 


47 




5 


22 


. 462 


35 


25 


48 




1 


23 


. 545 


36 


17 


50 




2 


24 


473 


Z7 


12 


51 




1 


25 


. 384 


38 


14 


? 


(French) 


. 229 


26 


. 335 


39 


9 


Total .... 


4,345 



130 A History of Base Hospital 32 

The medical service was called on to take care of the 
French civilians as often there was no French doctor to 
be had in Contrexeville. Seven of these were cared for 
in the hospital for pneumonia. Many cases were treated 
in their homes and Base Hospital 32 has several obstet- 
rical cases to its credit among the native civilians. 

The contagious cases were isolated in a small brick 
house of three rooms separated from the hospital proper, 
where, under the most inconvenient circumstances with 
a nurse and an orderly in attendance, the cases were 
isolated until recovery. Late in 191 8, a contagious 
hospital was opened up at Vittel and all contagious 
cases were sent there, after being isolated in the little 
brick house until diagnosis was positive. Care was 
continuously exercised to diagnose contagious or suspi- 
cious cases immediately so that no epidemic might occur. 
To this end, a throat culture of every member of the 
personnel was made when a case of diphtheria devel- 
oped in one of the wards of Hospital C. This precau- 
tionary measure disclosed four members of the command 
to be diphtheria carriers and three other members with 
active diphtheria in the initial stages. The cases were 
isolated and the spread of the disease checked at the onset. 
The carriers were given antitoxin until a negative culture 
was obtained before they were returned to duty. While 
the task of making hundreds of cultures was enormous, 
the medical service felt well repaid by the results ob- 
tained. 

On another occasion the Schick test was made on all 
members of the personnel and all showing a positive re- 
action were treated with antitoxin until a negative test 
resulted. As a result of such constant vigilance, there was 
no epidemic in the hospital — a remarkable fact consider- 
ing the crowded condition of the wards during the sum- 
mer and fall of 1918. 



X 

Departments 
Nose, Throat and Ear 

THE importance of the nose, throat and ear work in 
Base Hospital 32 is better appreciated when it is 
realized that almost six thousand gas cases, or approxi- 
mately sixty per cent of the total number of patients ad- 
mitted to the hospital, were treated and cared for by this 
department. 

Major Lafayette Page, whose distinguished service in 
the treatment of gas cases won him recognition through- 
out the French and Allied Medical Service, as well as 
the A. E. F., was officer in charge of this department, as- 
sisted by Captain C. W. Banner and Lieutenant Albert 
Barr. The department also included Dixie Borders, Ser- 
geant John Carroll and Jay Connaway. 

The examination and consultation rooms on the first 
floor of Hospital A were equipped and ready for service 
by March i, 19 18. Owing to the prevailing epidemic of 
influenza in the Spring of 1918, the service in this depart- 
ment was kept busy from the start, treating affections of 
the throat and bronchial tubes, often involving the acces- 
sory sinuses of the nose and ear. Many operations for the 
removal of tonsils, sinus and mastoid operations, correc- 
tions of deviated septa, etc., were performed on the unit's 
officers, nurses and enlisted men while waiting to receive 
patients from the front. After patients began to arrive 
from the front there was an increasing demand for ex- 
aminations of throat and ear cases. It was soon realized 
what a handicap the soldier suffered who had diseased 
tonsils and had to undergo the exposure of trench warfare. 
Infections of the throat involving the ear and accessory 

131 



132 A History of Base Hospital 32 

sinuses of the nose and frequently causing heart, kidney 
and rheumatic affections, kept up a constant stream from 
the front to the base hospitals of this class of patients. 
During the months of May and June, 1918, large num- 
bers of patients were brought in suffering from suppura- 
tive otitis media. The majority of these patients gave a 
history of tonsillar disease and discharging ears during 
childhood which had been quiescent for years until ex- 
posed in the trenches to dampness or shell fire. These 
cases all had to be examined very carefully as well as the 
non-suppurative cases of ear disease. A large number of 
so-called "shell shock" cases with apparent total deafness 
without any visible lesion had to be differentiated from 
the malingerers. These cases required most elaborate ex- 
aminations to detect the frauds who were trying to evade 
duty. The department's service in treating this class of 
patients and getting them back to the lines, and detecting 
the malingerers was often complimented by the general 
consultant. Colonel McKernan. 

One of the most important and arduous duties of the 
throat and ear service throughout the war, after the intro- 
duction of poison gases by the enemy on April 22, 191 5, 
was the treatment of gas burns of the respiratory tract. 
The Allied Medical Service was completely over- 
whelmed for a time by the great number of casualties 
and without knowledge or means of proper treatment. 
When Base Hospital 32 received its first convoy of gas 
patients in March, 19 18, the only treatment developed by 
the Allied Medical Service which was regarded of value 
was the use of oxygen and watery alkaline sprays for the 
nose and throat. As there was not an oxygen tank in the 
hospital center, we naturally had to resort to other treat- 
ment. At this time, March, 19 18, the enemy was using 
mixed gases, thrown over with shells from trench mortars 
and heavy artillery. The attack usually began with gases 




EVE DEPARTMEXT, HOSPITAL A 




NOSE. THROAT AND EAR DEPARTMENT, HOSPITAL A 



Departments 133 

which produced excessive sneezing and filled the eyes 
with tears, these being followed by the more poisonous 
gases, mustard and phosgene. From March, 19 18, to 
November nth, the close of hostilities, Base Hospital 32 
had six thousand gas cases, including every variety of gas 
poisoning from the slightest intoxication to the most vio- 
lent and destructive forms of poisoning. Twenty-eight 
hundred of this number were of the more serious nature. 
Many patients died en route in the ambulances, on whom 
postmortems were made and the findings noted. Excel- 
lent water color sketches were made by J. Connaway of 
the postmortem appearance of the respiratory tract and 
lungs, illustrating the destructive effects of the gases on 
these organs. 

The greater number of fatalities was due to the effects 
of phosgene and mustard gas on the respiratory tract and 
lungs, although the latter produced most persistent and 
painful burns of skin and eyes. Hospital attendants were 
often painfully burned by contact with clothing or 
blankets which had been exposed to mustard gas. 

The first convoy of gassed patients was received at 
5 p. m., March 23, 1918. These patients were principally 
from Companies K and M, 165th Infantry, 42nd Division 
(Rainbow), and were gassed in the Loraine Woods near 
Luneville, American Sector, Wednesday and Thursday, 
March 20 and 21, 191 8. No one had ever witnessed such 
suffering and distress as these patients manifested. With 
skin burned and discolored, eyes swollen shut, spasms of 
choking, vomiting and struggling for breath, with lungs 
literally drowned with their own lung secretions, they 
writhed in pain until they became unconscious for want 
of oxygen. The first severe effects of the gas were usually 
felt in the eyes at varying intervals of from one to three 
hours after the attack. The respiratory effects developed 
very much later, extending from a few hours to several 



134 ^ History of Base Hospital 32 

days after the attack, excepting in those cases exposed to 
a high degree of gas concentration, in which death took 
place at once. The eyes were usually swollen shut and 
pouring out large quantities of secretion, associated with 
burning pain and intolerance of light. Nausea, retching 
and vomiting with pain and oppression over the chest 
were among the earliest and most persistent symptoms, 
followed later by coughing and spasms of the glottis, with 
excessive discharge of frothing mucus, often mixed with 
blood. It is the rapid accumulation of this fluid in the 
lungs which constitutes the immediate danger to life, 
since it interferes with the respiratory exchange in the 
lungs and leads to severe want of oxygen, which is indi- 
cated either by deep cyanosis or by pallor and collapse. 
The deeply cyanosed or leaden-colored face, the quick- 
ened respiration and rapid pulse, the restlessness, the con- 
stant and spasmodic efforts to expel the profuse, frothy 
expectoration, was the usual clinical picture during the 
first two or three days. After that came the secondary 
stage, when the extensive burns in the throat, bronchial 
tubes and lungs became infected and began to suppurate. 
As the necrotic process advanced, large quantities of exu- 
date, consisting of broken-down tissues, tube casts, green- 
ish-gray masses of membrane, and sometimes necrotic 
lung tissue, were thrown off in the bronchial discharge. 
During this stage the breath was very foul from the gan- 
grenous discharges, and the patient, utterly exhausted 
from the absorption of poison and the constant spasmodic 
and ineffectual efforts through coughing to expel the ac- 
cumulated slough, would lapse into a semi-conscious 
state. It happened more than once that there were several 
hundred of these cases of more serious forms of gas poi- 
soning grouped together in the hospital wards at one time, 
and not being able to use any form of opiates for relief of 



Departments 135 

their terrible distress, lest the end be hastened, the re- 
sources in the face of such suffering were very limited. 

At this time the Allies had not developed any treatment 
for the eflfects of poison gases in the respiratory tract 
which was satisfactory. Oxygen was used to meet certain 
indications, but there was not a single oxygen tank in that 
hospital center during the early months of our service. 
Apparently alkaline antiseptic washes, which were rec- 
ommended, increased the suppuration and aggravated the 
patients' condition. The hospital was at liberty to insti- 
tute any treatment that promised relief, so the combined 
force of physicians and nurses worked night and day and 
gave their best efforts to help these poor fellows in any 
way they could. 

The first object was to relieve the exhausting spasms of 
ineffective cough without the use of opiates, and next to 
obtain better drainage of the lungs and respiratory tract 
and thus facilitate the healing process. For these pur- 
poses it was found that intra-tracheal medication was the 
most effective. The medication in oil solution was intro- 
duced with a tracheal syringe during inspiration, when 
the glottis is open. Assistants could easily be trained for 
the trick of introducing the syringe and administering the 
medicated oils to the treachea and smaller bronchi. In some 
cases peculiarly sensitive to any kind of throat medication 
it was at first necessary to sponge the pharynx with a two 
to four per cent solution of cocaine before introducing 
the syringe. The principal solutions used were of guiacol, 
camphor, menthol in alboline or olive oil, live per cent of 
each, through the early stages. Antipyrine in the same 
proportion was used when the spasms were excessive. 
Applications through the bronchoscope to the ulcerating 
surfaces, of silver nitrate or argyrol, were used effectively 
in some of the very chronic cases. 



136 A History of Base Hospital 32 

When the oil solution reached the deeper bronchi, the 
first effect was to produce a cough which expelled the 
contents of the trachea and bronchi, often consisting of 
large casts, the products of inflammation and suppuration 
which had accumulated in the trachea and smaller bron- 
chi and which previous efforts at coughing had not been 
sufficient to expel. After these injections the cough lasted 
only a few seconds, the patient then experiencing a sense 
of relief and general comfort throughout the lungs. 
Easier breathing and better oxygenation were at once 
noticeable as well as a diminution of the general toxic 
symptoms, and following the treatment came more restful 
sleep and rest of the respiratory organs. The natural 
drainage of the lungs and bronchial tubes was facilitated 
by the oil solution through contraction of the swollen 
membranes from the camphor-menthol, while the guiacol 
acted as a local antiseptic and anaesthetic. Without excep- 
tion these patients expressed themselves as receiving great 
relief and when suffering requested the treatment. 

The patients w^ho received this treatment usually made 
a rapid recovery and many of them were able, considering 
the damage to the respiratory tract, to return to the lines 
in a surprisingly short time. 

The results were so encouraging in Base Hospital 32 
that the treatment was recommended in the official bulle- 
tins of the Allied Gas Service in April, 1918, and adopted 
in many of the other base hospitals of the A. E. F. 

In this connection the official history of the Indian- 
apolis Chapter of the American Red Cross* is quoted as 
follows : 

The work of Lilly Base Hospital in this field attracted 
attention throughout the Allied armies. It was an impor- 
tant contribution to the cause of medicine in the war, and 

*A Red Cross Chapter at Work, by Marie Cecile and Anslem Chomel. 



Departments 137 

will, it is thought, be of great value in the treatment of 
bronchial trouble in civil life. Other hospitals, Johns 
Hopkins among them, sent members of their staffs to "32" 
to observe the method of treatment, which was widely 
copied in our own and English hospitals and became, in 
fact, the standard in the A. E. F., being set out in a bul- 
letin by Colonel H. L. Gilchrist, medical director of gas 
service in the A. E. F., side by side with a report of the 
Chemical Warfare Medical Committee issued by the 
Medical Research Committee of the British Army, and 
a report of observation in gas cases by the heads of the 
British and French gas services. 

X-Ray 

The X-Ray Department of Base Hospital 32 was under 
the direction of Lieutenant Raymond C. Beeler, assisted 
by Lieutenant Ralph L. Lochry. The enlisted personnel 
assigned to this department were Sergeant George E. 
Magee, and Charles S. Stough, Walker Marshall and 
Leslie Summers. 

The original X-Ray equipment of Base Hospital 32 
was the best and most complete that could be bought. It 
was larger than the average and comprised everything 
that is used in the modern X-Ray department of the better 
hospitals in the United States. The transformer was of 
the large auto transformer type, approved by the sur- 
geon general's office, and there was a large fluoroscopic 
table with tube stand attached for roentgenographic work 
of any kind. 

A large stereoscopic plate changing tunnel made chest 
work very easy and rapid, and an erect fluoroscope made 
it possible to study stomachs and chests in the upright 
position. This apparatus was more than the average for 
a five hundred bed hospital, and went to form a large 
nucleus of the equipment when the hospital became of 



138 A History of Base Hospital 32 

two thousand two hundred and fifty bed capacity. To the 
original equipment were added two U. S. Army Bedside 
units, Radiator type Coolidge tube, a standard trans- 
former, combination table with accessories, and numerous 
smaller appliances used in localization of foreign bodies. 
Some of the later equipment was brought over by the 
Iowa Unit, and it was this outfit that made an X-Ray de- 
partment possible in Hospital E of the medical section. 

The main room of the X-Ray department was located 
on the first etage of Hospital A, the Cosmopolitain. It 
was a large, high-ceilinged room, conveniently located 
near the surgeries and dressing rooms, and affording am- 
ple space to accommodate the department even during 
the rush times. Another room farther back on the same 
floor was used as an office and plate room. 

The installation of the equipment required several 
weeks and entailed a number of difficulties. The most 
serious obstable that was confronted was the wrong type 
of electric current. In order that the current might be 
adapted to the equipment, it was necessary to procure a 
large rotary convertor. The department was fortunate 
here in having a friend in Lieutenant-Colonel Hickey in 
charge of X-Ray supplies in the A. E. F., and after a 
number of requisitions, backed up by personal letters, a 
suitable convertor was procured. 

Shortly after the convertor arrived it was discovered 
that it would be necessary to run a new electric line from 
the power plant to the X-Ray rooms. The power plant 
was a small one with storage batteries supplying the town 
and the hotel buildings, and was later taken over and 
operated by the United States Army. As soon as the new 
line was connected Sergeant Magee, with the aid of a 
number of other enlisted men acting in the capacity of 
electricians, carpenters and plumbers, began the work of 



Departments 139 

installation. Sergeant Magee, an expert X-Ray techni- 
cian in civil life, effected a type of installation that dif- 
fered radically from any other X-Ray installation in the 
A. E. F. at that time. This arrangement proved to be so 
highly satisfactory and so efficient that it was afterward 
copied by experts from headquarters and reproduced in 
other hospitals. 

During the absence of Lieutenant Beeler, while on de- 
tached service at Base Hospital 15 at Chaumont, the in- 
stallation work progressed under the direction of Lieu- 
tenant Lochry. Following the return of Lieutenant 
Beeler, Lieutenant Lochry was ordered away with a sur- 
gical team, and was eventually transferred to Liverpool, 
where he was placed in charge of the X-Ray department 
of A. R. C. Hospital 4. During Magee's illness, and after 
his transfer, Leslie Summers assisted largely in the tech- 
nical work. It was Summers, also, who made the X-Ray 
tables and accessories which were so badly needed later to 
take care of the increased number of wounded, and which 
could not have been obtained from any other source. 

The work of the X-Ray department, following the ar- 
rival of a large convoy, was of unusual importance, as 
practically every surgical case was examined. When the 
convoys arrived, the patients were first given nourish- 
ment and were then started through the X-Ray room. 
The most serious cases were taken first, and their wounds 
searched for foreign bodies. The skin was marked wher- 
ever any such foreign bodies were located, and a descrip- 
tion of the number, size, kind and depth of the foreign 
bodies dictated to one of the men, generally Marshall. 
Marshall became very speedy at this, and both he and 
Summers assisted in the localization at times, relieving 
Lieutenant Beeler whenever he was called out to the sur- 
geries. 



140 A History of Base Hospital 32 

As the Allied drive developed, the department w^as 
soon handling large numbers of wounded with remark- 
able dispatch. Lieutenant Beeler's localizations became 
so accurate as to excite the admiration of all of the sur- 
geons, and the department was able to maintain a speed 
sufficient to feed all the surgical tables. Fractures were 
also found and if necessary X-Ray plates were made and 
sent to the dark room, where Stough would develop them 
and be ready to report in ten minutes. This was the usual 
procedure during rush times. 

When the last patient in the convoy had been localized, 
the department would get back to the regular routine 
work of making chest, sinus, stomach, and other examina- 
tions. Fracture cases were adjusted under the fluoroscope. 
Patients that were not able to be moved from their beds 
were examined with the U. S. Army Bedside X-Ray ma- 
chine. All these sorts of examinations were made between 
convoys, and rarely was the department without work. 

According to the records of Base Hospital 32, more 
than half of the patients admitted to the hospital received 
X-Ray examinations. Similar figures prevailed in almost 
every American hospital in France, and statistics show 
that fifty-four per cent of the sick and wounded in the 
A. E. F. were examined by the X-Ray. The value of the 
X-Ray was never entirely realized until the war. With- 
out it, it is safe to say that the mortality in war surgery 
would have been double. 

Anesthesia 

No other hospital in France made as great progress in 
practical anesthesia as Base Flospital 32 and the Vittel 
Hospital Center. As with the entire A. E. F., ether was 
the anesthetic of choice in "32." Chloroform was used to 
a great extent by the British and French, but the Amer- 




LIEUTENANT BEELER WITH A DELEGATION OF FRENCH OFFICERS 
INSPECTING THE X-RAY DEPARTMENT 




X-RAY DEPARTMENT, HOSPITAL A 



Departments 141 

icans, with their knowledge of its dangers, used but little 
of it. There was a time when good ether was unavailable 
in France, and chloroform was used to an extent then, 
but not with the official sanction of the general medical 
stafif. 

As there were not enough medical officers to take care 
of the anesthetic work, most of this was done by nurses 
and hospital orderlies under the instruction of a medical 
anesthetist. Captain Arthur E. Guedel, M. C, U. S. A., 
was in charge at Base 32, with Margaret Henke, Sarah 
Greenhalgh, Hazel Alkire, and other nurses as regular 
assistants. In rush periods medical officers on duty else- 
where in the hospital would assist with the work. 

It was in Base Hospital 32 and the Vittel Medical Cen- 
ter that a combination of ethyl chloride, chloroform 
and ether, administered under a closed hood, was de- 
veloped for all short operations and general induction of 
all ether anesthesias. The idea of this method was copied 
from the French, who used the same anesthetic agents in 
slightly dififerent pi^oportions for short anesthesias — it be- 
ing left to the Americans to apply the time-saving prin- 
cipal for the induction of ether narcosis. Whereas with 
straight ether the induction of ether was from ten to 
twenty minutes, with this combination and method, this 
induction time was reduced to from one to two minutes. 
After a study of its efiects in two thousand cases in the 
Vittel Center, the method was presented to General 
Headquarters and was accepted, although not officially 
adopted, for the entire A. E. F. This, however, was but 
two months prior to the signing of the armistice, and there 
was not time to place it in all hospitals. It was used in 
some forty thousand cases, as nearly as can be reckoned, 
and the total time saving is almost incalculable. 

Nitrous oxide and oxygen, in combination, was the 



142 A History of Base Hospital 32 

anesthetic of choice officially adopted by the General 
Medical Staff, but its general application failed for two 
reasons. First, there was a great shortage of apparatus 
for its administration, each hospital having but one ma- 
chine, and many of these not delivered until late in the 
war. Secondly, the technique of its proper administration 
was a thing too difficult to teach in any short period of 
time. It is probably true that in the consideration of 
the adoption of this method, the General Medical Stafif 
was misinformed on this question of technique by some 
enthusiasts who knew but little about it. Nitrous oxide 
and oxygen, theoretically, is the anesthetic par excellence 
for all general work, but its difficulty of proper adminis- 
tration rendered it of little value in war surgery in 
France. Some hospitals had anesthetists who were quali- 
fied to handle it, but these were by no means sufficient to 
cover even one-tenth of the anesthesias administered. 
Therefore, the final general method of choice during the 
rush period and just before the armistice was signed was 
ether by the open drop method, the induction being ac- 
complished with closed administration of ethyl chloride, 
chloroform and ether. 

In Base Hospital 32 there was developed another nov- 
elty in anesthesia which was a general improvement over 
previous methods. This was the adaptation of an auscul- 
tation tube to a simple apparatus for the par nasal intra- 
pharyngeal administration of ether. This auscultatory 
tube aided in the determination of the degree of anethesia 
present in any case without necessitating the close inspec- 
tion of the face of the patient, which, in head surgery, is 
usually well covered by sterile draperies, and inaccesssible 
without disturbing the field of operation. This apparatus 
and method also disproved the old idea that for intra- 
pharyngeal anesthesia it was necessary to blow^ the ether 



Departmexts 143 

vapor into the pharynx with a bellows or motor blower. It 
was found that with the intra-nasal tubes in place, the pa- 
tient, through the process of his natural respiration, would 
aspirate a vapor of ample concentration and volume to 
maintain proper anesthesia in all cases. Inasmuch as the 
blower part of any apparatus for intra-pharyngeal anes- 
thesia is the most complicated and expensive — and in 
France the least available — part of the apparatus, the 
discovery of this principal of vapor aspiration simplified 
matters considerably for head surgery anesthesia. This 
method is now being carried on in civil practice in 
America. 

Both the ethyl chloride, chloroform and ether rapid 
induction, and the auscultatory, vapor aspiration meth- 
ods have been published in the American Journal of Sur- 
gery by Dr. Guedel, the former under date of April, 
19 19, and the latter the same year. 



XI 

Departments (Continued) 

Laboratories 

THE Central Laboratory at Contrexeville, which 
served both Base Hospitals 31 and 32, was organ- 
ized in April, 1918, and was located in the Harmand 
Hotel, Hospital No. 3 of Base Hospital 31. Seven rooms 
on the second floor of this building were given over for 
laboratory purposes. Suitable plumbing was installed and 
equipment was furnished from the laboratory supplies of 
both organizations. A mortuary was established in the 
basement of the Hotel Harmand Annex. 

It was expected that the Central Laboratory would do 
all serology, bacteriology and pathology, as well as some 
clinical tests. For the convenience of the different hos- 
pital staffs, however, small subsidiary laboratories were 
established in the Cosmopolitain, Providence, Royal, Con- 
tinental, Harmand and the Martin Aine. 

The Central Laboratory staff as originally designated 
was as follows: Lieutenant Scott R. Edwards, officer in 
charge and serology; Lieutenant David R. Farley, wound 
bacteriology; Lieutenant Elmer Funkhouser, autopsies 
and microscopic pathology; Lieutenant Walden E. 
Muns, general bacteriology. 

On April 13, 1918, Lieutenant Edwards and Farley 
were ordered to Epernay for a ten-day course in wound 
bacteriology. Shortly after their return Lieutenant Ed- 
wards was relieved from further duty, and was succeeded 
as officer in charge by Lieutenant Farley. Lieutenant E. 
J. Wehman was assigned to the vacancy on the staff. 

On April 26th Lieutenant Funkhouser was ordered to 

144 



Departments (Continued) 145 

the 42d Division, returning to Contrexeville and resum- 
ing his former duties with the laboratory on June 21st. 
On June 29th Lieutenant Funkhouser received another 
order transferring him to Dijon for a five-weeks' course 
in serology. Meanwhile Lieutenant Wehman was absent 
from June 30th to July 29th, having been ordered to Mo- 
bile Hospital No. 39 for temporary duty. 

The enlisted personnel of the Central Laboratory and 
subsidiaries was as follows: Sergeant Don Westfall, Ser- 
geant H. H. Hollingsworth, Sergeant Pierre S. Morgan, 
Sergeant Berl C. Shearer, Sergeant Frank H. Judson, 
Sergeant Raymond Johnston, Sergeant Walter Howlett, 
Sergeant P. A. Vanderschouw, Corporal Paul Matthews, 
Corporal M. R. Fox, Louis Stuart, Edward H. Newell, 
Harry W. Fisher and Dickson Lynch. 

By the end of May the Central Laboratory was com- 
pletely organized with the exception of the Serology De- 
partment. This department did not begin functioning 
until Lieutenant Funkhouser returned from Dijon to take 
charge of it. From that time on it did the serology for all 
four hospitals in the center, as well as the anatomico- 
pathology for Base Hospitals 31 and 32. 

Lieutenant Funkhouser was assisted in the serology 
work by Sergeant H. H. Hollingsworth. Wasserman 
tests were made on Tuesdays and Fridays, the number of 
blood tests varying according to the number of patients 
in the hospitals. More than six hundred such tests were 
made by this department before the hospitals were closed. 
The number of positive Wassermans from soldiers was 
probably no greater than is found in civilians. 

The autopsies were performed in the morgue, there 
being no other room available for this work. The army 
regulations required that all soldiers dying in the service 
should come to autopsy whenever circumstances would 



146 A History of Base Hospital 32 

permit. This greatly increased the laboratory work. Two 
hundred and fifty-four autopsies were performed before 
the laboratory was closed. Records of the month of Octo- 
ber alone show one hundred and twenty postmortems. 
Sergeant Pierre Morgan acted as undertaker for the two 
hospitals and deserves credit for the manner in which this 
work was handled. 

The Bacteriology Department, under Lieutenant Far- 
ley and Muns, also saw intensive service. An average of 
more than five hundred cultures were made monthly. The 
volume of wound bacteriology, however, was not as ex- 
tensive as had been anticipated. Often during periods of 
rapid evacuation the surgical patients did not remain long 
enough to benefit by bacteriological examinations. 

The clinical pathology was done largely in the sub- 
sidiary laboratories. These laboratories were in charge 
of enlisted men who had been trained for the work by 
officers of the Central Laboratory stafif. An average of 
approximately fifteen hundred tests were done monthly. 

Orthopedic Service 

The original plan of organization of Base Hospital 32 
did not include a separate orthopedic service, but merely 
an orthopedic surgeon as a part of the general surgical 
service. This was no doubt due to the fact that the treat- 
ment of compound fractures was to be considered as gen- 
eral surgery. 

In organizing the different departments in Contrexe- 
ville no special arrangements were made for a fracture 
service (which class of cases later constituted ninety per 
cent of the work done by the orthopedic surgeons), and 
very little was done in the preparation of splints and 
equipment. 

Shortly after the hospital's arrival in France, Captain 



Departments (Continued) 147 

Eugene B. Mumford, who had been designated as ortho- 
pedic surgeon, was ordered to Belgium on detached serv- 
ice, and was later transferred to an American surgical 
team and assigned to the French army at Grandevillier, 
Oise. During the early months of the hospital's service, 
while Captain Mumford was absent, the few fractures 
that came in were handled without much difficulty, but 
in June, when convoys began coming directly from the 
front, the necessity for a well-organized fracture or ortho- 
pedic service became apparent. Upon Captain Mum- 
ford's return to Contrexeville, early in July, 1918, the 
commanding officer directed him to organize such a serv- 
ice, and ordered that all wounds involving the bone 
should be assigned to this department. 

The personnel of the orthopedic department originally 
consisted of Captain Mumford and Irwin C. McDonald. 
A room on the surgery floor of Hospital A was assigned 
to the department and filled with all varieties of splints 
and accessories. 

These preparations came none too soon. The first three 
days after the organization of the department one hun- 
dred and thirty-two compound fractures were scattered 
over the first floor of the Cosmopolitain, all to be taken 
care of by one surgeon and an inexperienced assistant. 

Gradually, however, these days of confusion became 
days of system and order, and the care of the fractures 
became proportionately easier. The daily dressing of the 
many compound wounds was organized with Miss L. V. 
Beck in charge. Five Dakin carts or "crews" were under 
her direction, and it was only through her long hours of 
labor and the capable assistance of the ward nurses that 
the volume of work handled by the department was made 
possible. 

It is greatly to the credit of Captain Mumford that in a 



148 A History of Base Hospital 32 

few short weeks and with very little to start with, he built 
up one of the most efficient orthopedic departments of any- 
base hospital in the A. E. F. 

During the period of the hospital's greatest activity the 
orthopedic service cared for an average of about three 
hundred and fifty cases, practically all of which were 
compound fractures. A record of 689 patients was kept, 
but these comprised only the more seriously wounded and 
did not include the many minor wounds and "flat feet" 
cases. One hundred per cent of the bomb wounds, eighty- 
seven per cent of the high explosive wounds and ten per 
cent of the machine gun wounds were infected. Notwith- 
standing this there were but two cases of tetanus and only 
four amputations, all of which were due to gas infection. 
There were nine deaths. 

The close co-operation of the X-Ray department under 
Captain Beeler with the orthopedic service was a source 
of great benefit to the patients. Most of the fractures were 
reduced under the fiuoroscope. 

The orthopedic department of Base Hospital 32 was 
the first in the A. E. F. to use a special anesthesia for 
dressing wounds. This anesthesia, as suggested by Cap- 
tain Mumford and developed by Captain Guedel, not 
only promoted the efficiency of the department, but re- 
duced the suffering of the wounded to a minimum. 

The personnel of the department was later augmented 
by the assignment of Lieutenant F. H. Murray and Cap- 
tain Alphonso Meyer. These officers came at a time 
when their services were badly needed and both of them 
became valuable assets to the orthopedic service. 

A^^ uro-Psy c h ia try 

The work of Base Hospital 32 in this interesting field 
is related in the following account by Major Chas. D. 




r- 



m^ 







Departments (Continued) 149 

Humes. Major Humes was consulting neurologist for the 
Vittel-Contrexeville Hospital Center, 

The part which Base Hospital 32 played in the great 
war I can better appreciate and describe because of my 
being only partly attached to it and associated with three 
other base hospital groups at the same time, which af- 
forded me the opportunity of comparing the work of 
Base Hospital No. 32 to Base Hospital No. 31 of Youngs- 
town, Ohio — Base Hospital No. 23 of Buflfalo, N. Y., and 
Base Hospital No. 36, of Detroit, Mich. 

In the early part of the conflict the medical depart- 
ment, under Major Kennedy, accompanied the greater 
number of cases, as it was at this time that the large num- 
ber of psycho-neuroses arrived. Not too much credit can 
be given him for his efforts in isolating these cases and 
making it possible for our department to make daily re- 
view of all neuroses in the hospital. 

Captain Robert M. Moore had more direct charge of 
these cases than any other one of the medical stafif and I 
recall with the greatest pleasure many hours we spent 
together in the old Hotel Royal at Contrexeville. 

The review of the work can be divided into: (i) the 
psycho-neuroses; (2) brain and spinal cord injuries; and 
(3) peripheral nerve lesions, psychoses, and miscella- 
neous. 

A neuroses is the expression of an attempt to adjust 
oneself to an unpleasant circumstance or situation, the 
degree proportionate to the failure of the individual. It 
is a natural mental defense unconsciously established, 
which affords the apparently easy way out of a difficulty. 
It is the outgrowth of unhealthy mental habits, the result 
of careless indifference and fostered chiefly by innate self- 
ishness. Itmanifests itself in civil life as pettiness, peevish- 



150 A History of Base Hospital 32 

ness, instabilities, inadaptabilities, lack of responsibility 
which grow into the fear of same, restlessness, irrelevant 
nervousness, fickleness of nature and conduct, disregard 
of rights and feelings of others, abiding concern of self, 
vague apprehensions, needless worries, morbid reflec- 
tions, etc. 

It should be classified as a psychoneurosis, manifest- 
ing any or all of the unnatural psychic reactions which do 
not completely overrule judgment and approaches the 
borderline of the psychoses so closely that distinction is 
more easily made than a difference and under the nomen- 
clature of neurasthenia, psychasthenia, nostalgia, insom- 
nia, etc., it has made its way into our literature and clini- 
cal discourse. With changing environment it is a livable 
possibility. The individual so constituted can accomplish 
his or her purpose so long as there exists the actual chang- 
ing scene or possibility of that is not denied, or at least 
can make the passing grade, avoid the public charge of 
incompetency and maintain the respect of the average 
community. It is common to all ages from accountability 
to senility and requires for its demonstration only such a 
man and a circumstance, not of his finer choosing. 

With this meager portrait before us of man's reactions 
in civil life we can rapidly pass to his war record. Mili- 
tary training and life worked its greatest hardship on 
these nonplastic, self-centered inadaptabilities. Their cir- 
cumstance was too unpleasant, its constancy unbearable, 
the scene unchanging. With no chance of relief in sight 
and no pleasure in present pursuit, they naturally fell a 
victim to one of the many war manifestations. 

I can speak intimately of the three periods of our ac- 
tivities: (i) the precombatant; (2) the combatant; and 
(3) the postcombatant. 

Each differs in both the nature and extent of the reac- 




PRESENTATION OF D. S. C. TO BASE HOSPITAL 32 PATIENT 




PARADE, JULY 4, 1918 



Departments (Continued) 151 

tion. Of the first, all is included from the day of enlist- 
ment or draft to the time of the American sector engage- 
ments. All ranks and all men are included in this review 
— West Point, Annapolis, regular army, those who had 
seen island and Mexican service and the rawest recruit — 
college professors, lawyers, doctors, dentists, ministers of 
all denominations, scientists, engineers, railroad, motor 
transport, bankers, farmers, and manufacturers. There 
was no pursuit of life, no trade or profession, no social 
scale untouched and these were our standard American 
citizens, examined, passed by boards and stamped fit. 

Although expecting much of this display, my clinical 
greed was soon satisfied. There were times in March, 
19 1 8, when I wondered when our army was going to 
adapt itself or adopt its circumstances. A constant state 
of pure old-fashioned homesickness pervaded every 
camp. That became more apparent as the gloomy days 
of early April came on, a factor which I was loath to ac- 
cept at first, but it became definite and distinct. The men 
were in so-called training areas, trying mostly to get 
warm and adapt themselves to France, her tongue and 
her weather. 

We had but one neurologic hospital in operation at 
that time. It was constantly crowded with officers and 
enlisted men, no transport return service established, the 
Bay of Biscay only to our backs and more patients com- 
ing in each day. The patients were almost entirely un- 
wounded excepting the great number of self-inflicted 
wounds, incident to. 

The English in the first two years of the war pensioned 
ninety per cent of their war neuroses. The French sent 
ninety per cent of theirs back to the lines in ten days. Hav- 
ing brought our men some three thousand miles at an 
average cost of $1,000, it behooved us to keep the majority 



152 A History of Base Hospital 32 

near the line also, knowing, too, that England was then 
re-educating her formerly pensioned men successfully, 
even after two years' invalidism. We adopted the same 
course early at No. 8, Savenay, the Post Graduate Hos- 
pital, New York. 

While I consider a war neurosis only an exaggeration 
of the civil type, its unusual manifestations were most in- 
teresting. The so-called shell shock, a pure warlike name 
for extreme nervousness, was successfully handled by first, 
kindly, gently quieting the patient, obtaining his con- 
fidence, evincing no lack of sympathy, yet firmly setting 
him on his feet, about face, and starting him back. Not 
easy then with the smell of salt air in your nostrils — at the 
port of debarkation, boats unloading under your very eye 
and going back with room aboard. The majority of these 
"shell shocks" had been acquired en route from Hoboken, 
many never having reached even the training areas. 

In May the hospital for neuroses was opened at La 
Fouche near the American Army sector and only the bor- 
derline cases came down, "unfit for further service in the 
A. E. F.," the papers would read. 

So you have it in the first period, nervousness (shell 
shock), night terrors, fainting spells (and always marked 
epilepsy), gigantic tremors, paresis, palsy, bizarre gaits, 
mutism, etc. 

2. Combatant Period — The Chateau Thierry drive 
alone netted the Vittel-Contrexeville Center some seven 
thousand casualties, among these six hundred so-called 
shell shocks, exhaustion, etc. Of this number all but 
twenty-three returned to duty in fourteen days; none of 
these were injured, simply nervous and exhausted, but 
exhibiting every phase from aphonia to monoplegia. 

The medical chiefs of the center with No. 32 set aside 
one building of each group for the reception of these 



Departments (Continued) 153 

marked cases. After forty-eight hours' rest they were put 
on hikes, formed into squads and rapidly worked back 
into duty class. Self-inflicted wounds disappeared when 
the real activity opened, excepting an occasional one. It 
was already evident that "shell shock" was unpopular 
and) almost impossible to get such an audible statement 
in a ward filled with wounded. This was July 15th to 
August 15th. 

Thereafter the psychoneuroses dwindled until in my 
report for September I mentioned to my chief. Colonel 
Salmon, the exact source of the cases, so rare were they. 
In short, the men were victims of exhaustion, and antici- 
pating this it was made the rule after the first drive in 
July to place the men in rest camps supporting their re- 
spective divisions and return directly to their comrades 
after a few days. / 

You may imagine that all the neurotics were wj eded 
out in the precombative period, but not so. Rather, many 
men became re-established and fought their way into 
good health, self-possession and many to glory and dis- 
tinction. 

3. The postcombatant was ushered in with the most 
phenomenal convalescence ever witnessed under heaven. 
Even the hopelessly wounded, the unfortunate head and 
spine cases, seemed to take a new lease on life, but the 
erstwhile nervous and depressed were cured before the 
church bells had tolled twice. But the war was not over. 
The third army needed replacements and then came an 
awful slump in morale. The vision of home grew dimmer 
and instead arose the occupation camps along the Rhine. 
An order issued at the psychological moment by the neu- 
ropsychiatric department saved the day for us, stating 
that all neuroses would be kept in France until cured. 

Officers and men alike suffered the suspense which fol- 



154 ^ History of Base Hospital 32 

lowed, the former more than the latter, since active re- 
sponsibility gradually diminished and the reorganization 
developed. Man's mind is not readily adaptable to un- 
certainty and this became more unbearable as chances for 
homecoming seemed possible. Relaxation for the first 
time settled on our army and almost amounted to mental 
inertia. Our department became busy again and the dis- 
cipline of the army was sorely taxed. I am convinced 
that nothing but the rigid discipline which had been 
well grounded saved the hospital situation through the 
months following the armistice, and nothing was so im- 
portant at all times as constant vigilance of these cases. 
I am certain that the letter of the law was observed, from 
personal conversations with the staff of 117, the advanced 
area hospital, and at No. 8, the original debarkation and 
final one, no case of psychoneurosis returned as such 
unless bearing the poor prognostic stamp of "unfit for 
service." 

Colonel Salmon reported that not one case of so-called 
"shell shock" came out of the Argonne, so completely had 
the word been driven out of the busy army medical corps 
at the front. Quite different from the first days following 
Chateau Thierry. 

Among officers the most constant affection was psychas- 
thenia with its indecision and fear of responsibility, the 
cure usually being affected by travel orders homeward. 
So dangerous was this state of mind that sudden change 
of orders was disastrous as in the case of a major at port 
of debarkation, ready to sail, who was ordered back with 
the third army, who forthwith shot himself through the 
head. This and many other tragic things marked the clos- 
ing weeks of reorganization and proves the narrow line 
which separates the neurosis from a true unsoundness of 
mind. 




THE BISHOP'S FARM 




RAILROAD BRlDt.K. K1\K1< \ A I K 



Departments (Continued) 155 

War neuroses are defense reactions commonly en- 
grafted on a neurotic tendency. Shell shock is a war work 
and enjoys no distinction truly its own and is not to be 
confused with the ^'commotio cerebri" so ably described 
by Marie and his French colleagues. Psychic reactions 
without motor disturbance was the rule among officers. 

The functional disturbances, aphonia, deafness, tremor, 
paralysis, largely obtained with the enlisted men and with 
only one exception in my experience associated with shot 
or shell wounds. 

The tendency toward neuroses, especially the acquired 
war neuroses, rapidly decreased as the army became com- 
bative. The success of correction lay in making the entire 
process of recovery satisfactory to the patient. 

It was the constant rule to relieve the patient from any 
morbid introspection and never refer to the disqualifica- 
tion which brought him into the neuropsychiatric depart- 
ment. The human element was more necessary in correct- 
ing and controlling these affections under war conditions 
than obtained in our regular private practice. 

From the nature of the injury received in the combat 
from high explosives, direct hits and particularly from 
being thrown heavy, great numbers of cerebral concussion 
cases resulted. The cases were cared for in both medical 
and surgical hospitals, particularly the latter if associated 
with any wound. Some of these cases without any evi- 
dence of injury required many weeks for recovery. 

The injuries of the brain were the result of either direct 
bullets or shrapnel hits, or from the result of skull frac- 
ture. The location of foreign bodies in the brain was 
made possible through the wonderful X-Ray work of 
Captain Raymond Beeler and Captain R. L. Lochry. 
The work of this department was, to my personal knowl- 
edge, second to none in France. 



156 A History of Base Hospital 32 

The rule was followed that the patient was operated for 
neurological relief and not merely to remove foreign 
bodies, and if the foreign bodies were giving no distress- 
ing signs they were ordered left alone and the patient 
kept under observation. I recall one man in particular 
who had twelve pieces of metal in his brain and had no 
neurological symptoms whatsoever. 

Our experience with brain wounds furthered our 
knowledge of cerebro-localization and gave us surprising 
information as to the extent which the brain can be trau- 
matised without focalizing signs. 

The treatment of skull fractures was a very conserva- 
tive one, absolute quiet, restraint, sedatives, frequent 
spinal drainage, etc., and absolutely avoiding local treat- 
ments to the nose and ears. One interesting case of a man 
who had suffered a fracture of every bone of the skull 
and face had bled profusely from all bony crevices, but 
had at no time suffered a loss of consciousness and made 
an uneventful recovery after being properly repaired. 

The spinal cord cases occupy a distinct place in my pro- 
fessional records. What experience I had enjoyed prior 
to the war with complete transverse cord lesions was 
doubly corroborated in my observations in France. The 
same calm, quiet, undisturbed expression was constant on 
the face of these fatally stricken heroes of ours. So char- 
acteristic was this of these boys mortally wounded with 
bullet wounds over the fracture of the spine and a com- 
plete severance of the cord that I rather enjoyed hearing 
an outcry of pain from those that were wounded in the 
back, because it gave me hope that an operation might 
give them some relief. 

On account of the great number of injured which always 
accompanied the broken back cases, we agreed early, that 
only the selected ones should be operated. Out of our very 



Departments (Continued) 157 

large experience of these cases we were able to establish a 
fairly definite formula, that is an immediate loss of sensa- 
tion and motion, without a return of these functions to any 
degree within forty-eight hours, means a complete and 
irrepairable cord lesion. 

In the peripheral nerve lesions we enjoyed the great 
experience of learning all over again physiology and an- 
atomy of our peripheral nerves. Our experience in civil 
life is rather limited in these observations, but with every 
convoy of wounded which came into our hospital center 
there were always great numbers of injuries as a result of 
the fracture bullet wound, hemorrhage and direct con- 
cussion of the nerves. 

I recall with great pleasure the service with Captain 
E. B. Mumford, who splendidly cared for fracture cases 
and frequently presented interesting nerve complications. 
Nerves were not sutured if an infection was present and 
if sutured a dry operation was necessarily performed. 
These cases were carefully charted, sent to the rear and 
on home, where the majority of the peripheral nerve 
work was finished. As all such cases require from one 
and one-half to three years to recover, they were all of no 
further use to the service. 

Among the psychoses we had to deal mainly with the 
manic-depressive type. 

Late in October, during the very heavy operations and 
a constant downpour of rain, many cases of acute depres- 
sion came in. I think in most cases it was a question of an 
early psychneuroses upon which was engrafted the psy- 
choses. Occasionally a constitutional psychopath with 
some incorrigible tendency would come under our notice. 
One of the most peculiar types of mania, so-called, was 
the result of belladona berry poisoning from which the 
boy finally recovered. After we had found the cause of 



158 A History of Base Hospital 32 

his trouble a special bulletin was issued by the army warn- 
ing the soldiers against eating the "beautiful blue grapes" 
in these mountains. 

During the month of August, 1921, I reviewed the old 
hospital center at Contrexeville. 

It will be of interest to all of the old members of the 
hospital and to their friends to know that the hotels which 
we used for hospitals are now reopened and are very gay 
with the usual activities of these watering places. The 
old Cosmopolitain is quite a massive building in peace 
time and a delightful hotel. The operating tables, the 
X-Ray outfits and the countless beds of wounded have 
been replaced by flowers and music and the rooms are 
now resounding with the gaiety of the pleasure-seeking. 
Not one of the old hotels but that is in full operation 
again. The old Casino, which I recall as a bloody scene 
of daily operation, is now polished, glittering with a dis- 
play of exquisite traps and games of chance and the vari- 
ous allurements for the gambler has replaced the sur- 
geon's scalpel and splints. 

I visited the graves of our boys when we left there and 
found that each had received the most gentle, painstaking 
care and not one blade of grass seemed astray. The graves 
are visited daily by the French of the village and no honor 
is spared their memory. On every side as I went about — 
the French were quick to renew the old acquaintance. 
They have not forgotten us and they are anxious that all 
of us return and live with them in times of peace. 



XII 

The a. R. C. 

NO ONE who served in the organizations of Base 
Hospitals 31 or 32 will take exception to the state- 
ment that the high rate of success attained by those units, 
not to mention the comfort and happiness of both patients 
and staffs, would have been materially lowered but for 
the able assistance and co-operation of the American Red 
Cross. 

Mr. Lawrence Hitchcock of Cleveland was the first to 
install this great service in Contrexeville. Mr. Hitch- 
cock's success in leasing the bathhouse and the Casino 
Theatre and in laying the foundations for many of the 
subsequent achievements of the Red Cross has been men- 
tioned earlier in the book. The order for Mr. Hitchcock 
to report to Paris headquarters for duty came as a dis- 
appointment to both hospitals, but when it was learned 
that his successor was to be Mr. William H. Thompson 
of Indianapolis it was felt that the loss was compensated 
for most satisfactorily. 

The following comprehensive report, written by Mr. 
Thompson for the Red Cross, at the expiration of his 
work, speaks for itself and tells to those who were there 
of the perseverance and expert executive ability it took to 
accomplish the supplying of so many wants in the face of 
such tremendous disadvantages as the time and location 
imposed: 

January 6, 19 19. 

To — ^^American Red Cross, 2 Place de Rivoli, Paris. 
From — Captain W. H. Thompson, Base Hospital Repre- 
sentative, B. H. 31 and 32, A. P. O. 732. 

159 



i6o A History of Base Hospital 32 

Subject — Report of work of William H. Thompson in 
the American Red Cross in France. 

1. Name — William H. Thompson. 

2. Home address in the U. S. — 1354 Lemcke Annex, In- 
dianapolis, Ind. 

3. Date and Place of Arrival in France — April 13, 1918, 
Bordeaux. 

4. First Assignment — Base Hospital Representative, B. 
H. 31 and 32, Contrexeville, Vosges. I arrived at Con- 
trexeville on April 29th and assumed charge on May 
2, 1918, relieving Captain Lawrence E. Hitchcock. 

5. I have had no permanent assignment other than that 
given above. 

6. Superior Officers — Captain Frederick Osborne was at 
the time of my arrival the commander of what was 
then known as the Advance Zone. He was succeeded 
by Captain Nicholas Tilney, who was succeeded by 
Major Wallace, commander of the Eastern Zone, later 
by Captain Furlong. Captain J. W. Burdick was the 
first deputy chief of the Home and Hospital Bureau in 
this zone. Before his arrival all my business afifairs 
were taken up directly with Captain Osborne. Captain 
Burdick was succeeded by Captain Furlong. It is im- 
possible for me to give the dates of the incumbency of 
these respective officers. 

7. Personnel — Upon my arrival in Contrexeville the per- 
sonnel consisted of the following: Mrs. Pearle C. 
Nicholson, searcher for Base Hospital 32; Miss Isabel 
D. Brownlee, searcher for Base Hospital 31 ; Sergeant 
Francis M. Kerwin of Base Hospital 31, secretary; 
William Lawless, chauffeur. Until the month of July 
there was no assistant here to aid me, but during that 
month the Paris office sent Lieutenant S. LeRoy Lay- 
ton, who remained through the middle of September, 
when he was succeeded by my present assistant. Miss 
Margery Sawyer and Mrs. Lydia C. French were each 
here for a short time as searchers. The present per- 




A VETERAN OF THE 1"KA.\(.() rKr>Sl AX WAR 




THE BARBER SHOP 



The a. R. C. i6i 

sonnel of Base Hospitals 31 and 32 consist of the fol- 
lowing persons: 

W. H. Thompson, Base Hospital Representative. 

T. B. Watkins, Assistant. 

May P. Foster, Secretary. 

Eva E. Sorensen, Directress of Hut. 

Ethel M. Hurley, Assistant. 

Kathleen MacMahon, Assistant. 

Mary K. Taylor, Searcher. 

Genevieve L. Swezey, Searcher. 

Beryl M. Johnson, Directress Nurses Club. 

Edwin Talghadar, Chauffeur. 

8. General Nature of Work — The American Red Cross 
has maintained at Base Hospitals 31 and 32: Bath- 
house; theater, up to November i, 1918; an American 
Red Cross hut; barber shop; officers' club; nurses' 
club; convalescent garden and nurses' garden. It has 
also had a sorting and receiving station for the bath- 
house, office and warehouse, and a garage. 
The general character of the work here consists of the 
management of these various activities and the super- 
vising of the distribution of cigarettes, tobacco, news- 
papers, magazines, shaving supplies, toothbrushes, etc., 
also the searching and home communication work. 
It seems to me that a more definite idea can be given of 
the entire situation and work here by treating each 
particular branch of the w^ork separately, and by first 
giving an idea of the hospital organization and the 
number of patients received. 

ORGANIZATION OF HOSPITALS 

Base Hospital 31 was organized at Youngstown, Ohio, 
and has added to it a unit from Syracuse, N. Y. Its com- 
manding officers have been Lieutenant Colonel Adam 
Schlanser, September 7, 1917, to June 15, 1918; Lieuten- 
ant Colonel C. R. Clark, June i6th to July 13, 1918; 
Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Sherbondy, July 14th to July 



1 62 A History of Base Hospital 32 

17, 1918; Captain A. E. Brant, July i8th to August 21, 
1918; Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Sherbondy, August 22nd 
to September 3, 1918; Captain A. E. Brant, September 
4th to September 30, 1918; Major J. L. Washburn, Octo- 
ber ist to November 24, 1918; Lieutenant Colonel J. A. 
Sherbondy, November 25th to December 31, 191 8; Lieu- 
tenant Colonel E. S. Van Duyn, January i, 19 19, to — 

The chief nurses of this unit, with their respective 
terms of office, have been : Miss Frances M. Kehoe, Sep- 
tember 9, 1918, to November i, 1918; Miss Sue Austin 
Wilson, November 2, 1918, to — 

Base Hospital 32 was organized in Indianapolis, Ind., 
and has a unit attached to it from southeastern Iowa. 

Its commanding officers, with respective dates of serv- 
ice, have been Major Harry R. Beery, September i, 1917, 
to February 13, 1918; Major Edmund D. Clark, Febru- 
ary 14th to March 6, 1918; Major H. H. Van Kirk, 
March 6th to July 14, 191 8, and Lieutenant Colonel Ed- 
mund D. Clark, July 14, 1918, to — 

Miss Florence Martin has been chief nurse of Base 
Hospital 32 from the time of its organization to date. 

The following figures show the total number of patients 
received by the two hospitals : 

PATIENTS 

B.H.31. B.H.32. 

March 32 408 

April 43 40 

May 556 274 

June 651 1,017 

July 1,688 1,574 

August 235 371 

September 2,007 2,319 

October 2,223 2,301 

November 855 814 

December 311 556 

8,601 9,674 

Total, both units 18,275 



The a. R. C. 163 

bathhouse 

The American Red Cross leased from the Societe des 
Eaux of Contrexeville its beautiful bathing establishment, 
situated on the Colonnade. The arrangement for this bath- 
house was perfected by my predecessor, Captain L. E. 
Hitchcock, and it was opened May ist. The bathhouse is 
built of stone, marble and tile. The tubs are part porce- 
lain and part zinc. The Red Cross rented the bathhouse, 
furnished the coal, soap and towels, and the labor was 
supplied by the army. One of the best uses to which the 
bathhouse was put was as a receiving station for the con- 
voys on their arrival. The men were taken directly to the 
bathhouse from the train, and were bathed before going 
to the hospitals. AH clothing was taken from the men 
and turned over to the hospital authorities. Each man re- 
ceived at the bathhouse from the army a pair of pajamas, 
a pair of socks and bathrobe, and from the American Red 
Cross an empty comfort bag. Many of the soldiers who 
came here had infested clothing, and by this method of 
procedure they went to the hospitals clean. 

The total number of baths given were as follows : 

May 3,591 

June 4,936 

July 6,576 

August 6,530 

September 4,460 

October 4,820 

Total 30,913 

In November showers were installed in the bathhouse, 
because of the fact that during the winter it was impos- 
sible to operate the tubs, owing to the exposed condition 
of the plumbing. The bathhouse was closed during No- 
vember for a number of days in order to make the change, 
and conditions have been such that the actual count of 
baths given have not been possible since that time. My 



164 A History of Base Hospital 32 

judgment is that there has been an average of 150 to 200 
baths a day given since that time. 

SORTING AND RECEIVING STATION 

In the room rented by the American Red Cross and 
formerly occupied by the Y. M. C. A. there has been in- 
stalled a sorting and receiving station for the bathhouse. 
This was used on several occasions when convoys of pa- 
tients were received, especially at night. The patients 
were given a comfortable place to sit while waiting their 
turn at the bathhouse, before going to the hospitals. Here 
the doctors examined the field cards of the patients and 
determined to which hospital each patient was to go. 
Also, hot cofifee was served here. 

RED CROSS HUT 

The American Red Cross hut opened on October 14, 
1918. It is 160 feet in length and 30 feet in width. At one 
end is a sales canteen, behind which are the storeroom, 
kitchen and office of directress. At the other end is the 
stage, and back of it are two classrooms and a dressing 
room. The main hall of the hut is approximately 100 feet 
by 30 feet in dimension. In the hut the Red Cross has 
given its Cinema service each week, consisting of a per- 
formance on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Satur- 
day evenings. These shows are always crowded and from 
650 to 700 men are accommodated. On other evenings of 
the week performances of other kinds have been given. 
Some of these have been furnished by the Y. M. C. A., 
others have come from neighboring hospitals, and still 
others have been given by the personnel and convalescents 
of Base Hospitals 31 and 32, in charge of the directress 
of the hut. One show in particular, a vaudeville perform- 
ance, including a musical show, was given, and the cos- 
tumes were designed and made by the women Red Cross 
hut workers. 

There have been three free servings in the hut each 
week, at which the patients were given either hot coffee 



'?IT 1 T 




THE RED CROSS HUT 




THE NURSES' liARUEX 



The a. R. C. 165 

or chocolate and cakes. Between 500 and 2,000 boys have 
been served each time. 

At the hut there have also been a liberal supply of 
magazines, newspapers and writing paper. 

The Christmas celebration, to which reference is made 
hereafter in this report, also centered around the Amer- 
ican Red Cross hut. 

It is impossible to estimate the real value of an activity 
like the hut. It has furnished a home for the patients in 
the hospitals and a place for them to spend the afternoon 
and evening. The hut is beautifully decorated, and has 
been kept thoroughly clean, and there has been no dif- 
ficulty in maintaining_a wholly satisfactory discipline. 

We have operated a sales canteen with supplies pur- 
chased from the Quartermasters' Department of the U. 
S. A. The goods so obtained are sold at actual cost, and 
no doubt this feature of the hut has been of some advan- 
tage, but personally I regard it as the smallest service 
rendered at the hut. 

CONVALESCENTS' FARM 

The American Red Cross leased and operated a farm 
of approximately fourteen acres. The work on the farm 
was in charge of garden officers appointed by the two 
base hospital units and one non-commissioned officer ap- 
pointed from each unit. The work was done by the pa- 
tients in the hospitals who were convalescents to some 
extent, but were able to do light farm work, and were in 
such condition that the medical authorities of the hos- 
pitals felt that some work would be of advantage to them. 
It was not hoped or expected that any considerable 
amount of produce would be obtained from the nine and 
three-fourths acres which were actually under cultiva- 
tion. Indeed, the work of planting was commenced some- 
what late. There were particularly unfortunate weather 
conditions, but in the end the actual amount of produce 
obtained was far better than had been expected. The fol- 
lowing figures will show the total number of hours of 



1 66 A History of Base Hospital 32 

convalescent labor and the total produce received from 
the farm, month by month : 

Hours. Produce. 

May 455 None 

June 1 135 32 doz. radishes 

July 872^^ 6 hampers lettuce 

188 doz. radishes 
1^ bushels of peas 
1^/2 bushels of beans 

2 doz. beets 
August 937 6 bushels of peas 

3 bushels of beans 
13 doz. beets 

5 hampers and 4 pounds of 
lettuce 

September No work done. . No produce removed. 

(Hospitals particularly 
busy during this month.) 

October 304 278 bushels of potatoes 

25 bushels of apples 

4 bushels of beets 
100 lbs. of lettuce 
25 doz. radishes 

November 106 98% bushels of potatoes 



THEATER 

From May ist to the middle of October the American 
Red Cross operated the Grand Casino here. Cinema 
shows and other entertainments were given in this theater 
up to the opening of the hut on October 14, 191 8. The 
Casino had a seating capacity of approximately 475 and 
was a beautifully decorated and appointed showhouse. 
The impossibility of heating the Casino led to abandon- 
ment of its use. 

BARBER SHOP 

For a considerable period of time it was almost impos- 
sible to procure for the patients in the hospitals necessary 
shaving materials. It was therefore decided to open a 



The a. R. C. 167 

barber shop in the Salon de Tir near the hut, and this was 
actually done on the 3rd day of October. The service at 
the barber shop is entirely free; hot water, razors, shaving 
soap, shaving brushes, towels, etc., are furnished, and the 
men are permitted to shave themselves. Also, I arranged 
for convalescents who were barbers to cut the boys' hair. 
The following is the record of operation: 

Hair Cuts. Shaves. Total. 

October 875 1,791 2,666 

November 715 2,762 3,477 

December 992 3,031 4,023 



Grand total for the three months 10,166 

NURSES' CLUB 

In the two units there are approximately 175 nurses. 
While their living quarters are comfortable in the sum- 
mer time, the buildings in which these quarters are situ- 
ated are difficult to heat, and there was no place where the 
nurses could congregate except one small recreation room 
for each of the units. It was therefore determined to 
establish a nurses' club, and such a club was opened the 
latter part of September, with Miss Beryl M. Johnson 
in charge. There are three living rooms opening into each 
other downstairs, and the other two floors of the building 
are used for reading, rest rooms, sewing room, card rooms 
and recreational features. Each afternoon the nurses are 
served with tea or chocolate and sandwiches. 

nurses' garden 

Dr. C. C. Graux of Paris gave to the American Red 
Cross a beautiful garden for the use of the nurses. The 
land was about four acres in extent, and was planted with 
shrubbery, fruit and shade trees. About seventy-five 
nurses had individual garden plots. Many informal tea 
parties and other social affairs were given at this garden 
during the summer. 



1 68 A History of Base Hospital 32 

officers' club 

An officers' club was opened in November where there 
are sleeping quarters for five officers, and where there are 
commodious lounging, reading and smoking rooms. The 
house is rented from M. Eugene Etienne and the furni- 
ture from Dr. Colin. 

SEARCHING AND HOME COMMUNICATION SERVICE 

There has been at all times, since March, 1918, in these 
base hospitals at least two searchers and sometimes three. 
The general duties performed by the searchers are as 
follows : 

1. Attending each funeral of an American soldier. 

2. Writing a letter to the nearest relative of each de- 
ceased soldier, called a mortality letter. 

3. Making weekly reports on the seriously sick and 
wounded soldiers in each hospital. 

4. Writing letters for the soldiers. 

5. Searching for men reported to be missing or dead, 
among their comrades in the hospitals, to ascertain 
whether the men reported missing were dead or alive, 
and if dead to report the details of his death and burial. 

6. Social work among the seriously sick in the hos- 
pitals. 

7. The furnishing of delicacies to the seriously sick. 

8. Writing to headquarters of the American Red Cross 
about a variety of matters for soldiers in the hospitals, 
including conditions at home, allotments, etc. 

It is almost impossible to give an adequate idea of all 
the things which these women have done. They have ren- 
dered exceedingly efficient service, and have worked 
practically day and night. 

CHRISTMAS PACKAGES 

Every soldier who came as a patient to these base hos- 
pitals up to approximately November i, 19 18, received 
from the American Red Cross one of the filled comfort 



The a. R. C. 169 

bags, or Christmas packages, packed by the various chap- 
ters in the states. 

After November i, 191 8, these packages were not dis- 
tributed because it had become impossible for us to pro- 
cure a supply from the warehouse at Neufchateau. 

There were, therefore, given out by me and my assis- 
tants here substantially 15,850 packages. Many of the 
patients received here, in fact most of them came to the 
hospitals absolutely stripped of all personal belongings, 
without shaving materials, without even toothbrushes, 
and many of them without any money with which to pur- 
chase the same. While these comfort bags and Christmas 
packages were never standardized as to contents, and not- 
withstanding the very great variation in their contents, 
they did furnish to the patients many things of which they 
were in need. In addition, they made each boy who re- 
ceived one feel that there was some one who had a direct 
personal interest in his welfare. 

I want to emphasize the fact that all comfort bags, all 
cigarettes, all tobacco, all magazines, and practically all 
other supplies which have gone to the American soldiers 
in these base hospitals have been given out directly by a 
Red Cross representative. Up to the time Lieutenant La^- 
ton arrived this work was done by myself, with the as- 
sistance of Mrs. Nicholson and Miss Brownlee. While 
Lieutenant Layton was here the work of distributing in 
the hospitals was under his personal supervision, and since 
the arrival of Lieutenant Watkins he has had charge of 
this distribution. It was never entrusted to any one other 
than a Red Cross representative. 

TOBACCO AND CIGARETTES 

At Base Hospitals 31 and 32 we have had regular days 
for the distribution of tobacco and cigarettes, starting on 
Monday morning and continuing through that day and 
into Tuesday when the number of patients was large. 
Each man received each week one package of cigarettes 
and a package of smoking tobacco, either Bull Durham, 



170 A History of Base Hospital 32 

or, if he preferred pipe tobacco, Prince Albert, Tuxedo, 
Stag. These cigarettes and tobacco were taken directly 
into the hospitals and delivered to the man personally, or 
if he was not in the hospital at the time, they were put on 
his bed for him. There has never been a failure in the 
supply of tobacco or cigarettes. 

NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES 

Three hundred newspapers are distributed daily by the 
American Red Cross in the hospitals at Contrexeville. 

Each month a magazine distribution has been made in 
Base Hospitals 31 and 32. For a time these magazines 
were sent to the Red Cross chaplain, but later the distri- 
bution of same was turned over to me, and the following 
data shows the extent of such distribution : 

July 2,002 

August 3,050 

September (estimated ) • 3,000 

October .' 4,135 

November 2,449 

December 3,71 1 

Total 18,347 

These magazines were distributed in the various hos- 
pitals, aggregating thirteen buildings, in the hut, etc. A 
preference was given in distributing the magazines to the 
bed patients. 

WRITING PAPER 

The American Red Cross has distributed a very large 
quantity of writing paper in these hospitals. At times as 
many as 20,000 sheets of paper and 10,000 envelopes were 
distributed weekly. 

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 

There were about two thousand convalescents in Base 
Hospitals 31 and 32 on Christmas day. The Christmas 



The a. R. C. 171 

supplies that were sent here were packed in specially pre- 
pared empty comfort bags, each of which has stenciled 
on it a red cross. These bags contained one pound of 
candy, one pound of nuts, one pair of socks, two handker- 
chiefs, a package of cakes, a box of matches, three Christ- 
mas cards, two boxes of cigarettes, one package of Bull 
Durham, one bar of chocolate and one additional Christ- 
mas present consisting either of a pipe, a package of play- 
ing cards, a razor, toothbrush, or something of similar 
character. 

The hut was beautifully decorated. At one end there 
was a large star of electric lights beneath which the 
American flag was draped. At the other end was a large 
Christmas tree, with about two hundred colored electric 
lights. The stage was artistically decorated with white 
and red hangings and two small Christmas trees. There 
was a profusion of greenery placed throughout the hut. 
At six o'clock the packages were delivered to the con- 
valescents of Base Hospital 31; at seven o'clock to the 
convalescents of Base Hospital 32, and at eight o'clock to 
the personnel of the two units. 

There were about two hundred bed patients who were 
unable to attend the Christmas celebration at the hut. 
They were given their packages in the hospitals on 
Christmas morning. 

In addition to the bags each man received two oranges, 
a cigar and a package of chewing gum. 

On Christmas day there was a special service at the hut 
at which each convalescent was given a bowl of hot cof¥ee, 
a bread and ham sandwich, cakes, candy and nuts. 

On the afternoon before Christmas there was a Christ- 
mas tree in the Salle Chaude for the French children. 
Each child was given a little blue bag containing a pound 
of candy, a pound of nuts and a package of cakes. The 
women workers had prepared out of cardboard paper 
dolls representing American soldiers and Red Cross 
nurses, and each child received one of these, also a toy 
from the tree and a woolen sweater. 



172 A History of Base Hospital 32 

OFFICE WORK 

The office of the American Red Cross from the time its 
activities started at these base hospitals until July 4th was 
in a small room in the Villa Salabury. On the last-named 
date an office with two commodious rooms was opened on 
the Colonnade. From this point the general business ac- 
tivities of the Red Cross have been conducted. Here 
checks have been cashed, remittances received for Amer- 
ica, stamps sold, etc. The extent of this service so ren- 
dered, which has been in charge of Miss May P. Foster, 
can be understood somewhat from the following figures, 
which cover a period from August 28, 19 18, to January 
6, 1919: 

Total exchange purchased 56,512.33 francs 

Money remitted to America, cash — French 35,679.60 francs 

Money remitted to America, checks 8,320.80 francs 

Money remitted to America, cash — American .. 926.11 francs 

Bills paid 27,084.00 francs 

Approximately 2,000 francs of stamps have been sold. 

The value of this service is further emphasized when 
attention is called to the fact, first, that there is no bank 
in Contrexeville where checks of any kind can be cashed; 
second, that there is no government postoffice where U. S. 
postal orders can be cashed or purchased, or stamps pur- 
chased; third, that almost all the items handled which 
make up the aggregate figures above were small in 
amount. 

OFFICE HOURS 

The American Red Cross office is open from 8 130 a. m. 
until noon, and from i to 5:30. Also, from 6:30 p. m. 
until 9:30 or 10 o'clock, and sometimes later. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

Under this heading may be classed a number of services 
performed by the American Red Cross here which I will 
no more than mention in a general way. 

I. Furnishing emergency hospital supplies upon requi- 




THE CASINO THEATRE 




MINSTREL SHOW, BASE HOSPITALS 31 AND 32, JUNE 15, 1918 



The a. R. C. 173 

sition signed by the chief surgeon or the section surgeon 
of S. O. S. 

2. Advice on legal matters, including the drafting of 
wills, contracts, etc. 

3. Consultation on matters of all kinds, including finan- 
cial and family troubles, etc. 

4. Furnishing of turkeys at Thanksgiving time to the 
convalescents in the two hospitals. 

5. Loans to soldiers under the plan originated by the 
A. R. C. 

8. The establishing of "sunshine rooms" in several of 
the hospital buildings. 

7. Cashing of checks at Neufchateau where the 
amounts were too large to be handled out of my revolv- 
ing fund. 

8. Shopping service. 

9. Exchanging of mutilated money at the bank at 
Neufchateau. 

EMERGENCY SERVICE 

There were many times in the hospitals when large 
numbers of patients were received in a few days. I call 
attention particularly to the condition in July, 191 8, when 
in the course of four days I distributed, with the assistance 
of my force, nearly 1,900 comfort bags. There were many 
times, also, when convoys were received, and when the 
bathhouse was actually used as a receiving station for two 
or three days continuously. 

9. There were two occasions on which I performed 
duties away from Contrexeville, as follows : 

1. The latter part of April, at the request of Captain 
Frederick Osborne, I made a trip to Epinal, Belfort and 
Besancon to report on the necessity for Red Cross work at 
those places. 

2. On November 22, 191 8, I left Contrexeville for the 
purpose of meeting returning American prisoners. My 
instructions from Captain Furlong were to meet Captain 
Bancroft at Clearmont and to go with him into territory 
formerly occupied by the Germans, following the Third 



174 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Army until such time as definite information could be 
procured of some possible point of entry into the Amer- 
ican lines of these prisoners, when I was to proceed to 
that point, also, with instructions to cover the situation at 
Metz and Strasbourg. 

On the evening of November 22nd I did join Captain 
Bancroft at Clearmont, and on the following morning we 
proceeded through Verdun and Longuyon to Longwy. 
There the third corps of the Third Army had taken over 
a German hospital and was using it to give relief to the 
American soldiers, nine of whom had been prisoners of 
war. The officers in charge informed me that when the 
Americans arrived on the 20th of November the Germans 
had left a local practitioner in charge, together with the 
French nurses. 

I visited the Americans who had been prisoners of war. 
They were all wounded, many of them seriously; one 
man had both legs amputated, another one leg, another 
five machine gun bullet wounds, and still another a bad 
wound in the jaw. Among the first things they asked for 
were American cigarettes, and fortunately we were able 
to supply these. The names of the men were taken, to- 
gether with their nearest relatives in America, and this 
information forwarded to Neufchateau by courier. 

At nine o'clock on Sunday morning, November 24th, 
I left Longwy and went to Luxembough, where I visited 
the office of the chief surgeon of the Third Army, but 
was unable to obtain any definite information, and con- 
tinued to Metz, where on the same afternoon Captain 
Whitcomb, Mrs. Cothrain and Miss Lynn reported to me. 

On the following morning we located 120 American 
prisoners at the prison camp near Fort Whippy, five kilo- 
meters north of Metz. The first thing which was done 
was to obtain full information as to their names, organi- 
zations, physical condition, the address of their next of 
kin. This data was promptly forwarded to Toul and then 
to Neufchateau and Paris. 

I also found that the American boys had had nothing 
to eat since their arrival at 4 a. m. that morning, except 



The a. R. C. 175 

what they carried with them, the remnants of the Red 
Cross packages sent into Germany through Berne, Switz- 
erland. I at once applied to the American officer at Metz 
and obtained 125 emergency rations. These we took in 
our camionette to the prison camp, and succeeded in serv- 
ing mess at i 130 that afternoon. These emergency rations 
came in galvanized tin cans. We opened one of these tin 
cans carefully and used it for serving coffee. Hot water 
was furnished by the French officials, one boy produced 
two cans of condensed milk from his Red Cross prison 
package. There was sugar in the emergency ration, and 
we had really delicious coffee. 

Each boy also received from the American Red Cross 
two packages of cigarettes, a package of cookies and a 
bar of chocolate and chewing gum. 

Major Verdi, of the U. S. Medical Corps, at my request 
went to the camp and redressed the wounds that needed 
attention. He also found a place for two of the more seri- 
ously wounded men in a temporary hospital at Metz. 

On November 27th twenty-eight American prisoners 
came to the Hospital St. Clemens, but were evacuated to 
Toul in ambulances before I reached the hospital, where- 
upon I wired to the American Red Cross at Toul to meet 
them and render assistance. 

On November 28th twelve American prisoners, who 
came from Giessen, were located in the station at Metz. 
These were given a noon Thanksgiving meal, and later in 
the day five boys, together with the twelve, were given an 
evening meal. On the afternoon of this day I made an 
arrangement for the evacuation of all American prisoners 
then in Metz to Nancy. The original plan was to evacu- 
ate the 120 boys, but upon returning to the prison camp I 
found ten additional prisoners there, making in all 130. 
The French did not know when these boys would be 
evacuated, so Lieutenant McCulley, the R. T. O. at Metz, 
arranged for three cars on the six o'clock evening train 
to Nancy. After some difficulty I succeeded in obtaining 
the consent of the French, and marched with the boys, a 
distance of five kilometers from the prison camp, to the 



176 A History of Base Hospital 32 

station. The column was headed by a boy bearing an 
American flag made from a Red Cross towel in one of the 
prison camps. 

I stayed at Metz until Saturday, November 30th, and 
from time to time prisoners drifted through the station in 
small lots. Altogether, the persons under my direction 
accounted for 190 American prisoners, but twenty-eight 
of these were not reported on because they were evacuated 
before they could be reached. 

In a general way these boys were furnished by the Red 
Cross with food, sweaters, cigarettes, tobacco, etc. Also, 
full information was sent to our Paris office for cabling 
to America so that their families would be advised of 
their safe return within the American lines. 

On one day we operated a canteen in the railroad sta- 
tion at Metz for arriving prisoners of war and for repatri- 
ated residents of Alsace and Lorraine. 

I did not go to Strasbourg for the reason that before the 
situation at Metz had been covered Captain Furlong ad- 
vised me by wire that there were five members of the 
American Red Cross at Strasbourg. 

Respectfully submitted, 
(Signed) William H. Thompson, 

Base Hospital Representative. 






DETACHMENT INSPECTION 




»^J2- 



PART OF THE ENLISTED PERSONNEL 



XIII 
Packing Up 

IF in the life of Base Hospital 32 there existed periods 
of depression, those months, few though they were, 
between the armistice and the actual start for home, may 
be truthfully described as acutely depressing. 

As was the case in the United States, the armistice was 
"signed" twice by virtually every one except the signers. 
In Contrexeville and Vittel, by popular acclamation, and 
(some say) by order of Colonel Rukke, commanding 
officer of the Hospital Center, Friday afternoon, Novem- 
ber 8th, marked the formal end of hostilities. The Con- 
trexeville band was sent to Vittel in the afternoon to join 
in the celebration, which consisted of informal, noisy 
parades, impromptu speeches and general hilarity. 

This celebration, it should be noted, was manifest only 
among the Americans. The crafty French simply 
shrugged their shoulders and indicated that if the report 
were true the mayor surely would have been notified of- 
ficially, and the town crier would be spreading the news. 

From that moment until shortly after noon, November 
nth, one could hear numerous "reliable" reports that "it's 
no longer rumor; the armistice actually has been signed 
now." When the official word did come. Mayor Morel 
was first to receive it, and he, in turn, communicated it to 
Colonel Clark, manifesting his delight by the proverbial 
kiss on either cheek, somewhat to the embarrassment of 
the latter, as the street was well filled with amused 
soldiers at the time. 

A firing squad of eight men was assembled quickly and 
provided a presidential salute of twenty-one volleys. For 
the first time since their arrival in Contrexeville, the 

177 



178 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Americans saw a liberal display of French and allied 
flags, the natives immediately bedecking their homes and 
public buildings, as well as the thermal establishment 
and the park, which graced the heart of the village. 

In the evening windows which hitherto had been sealed 
were shorn of their shutters and shone forth such cheer 
as the French were able to muster after five sad and peril- 
ous years. Window sills throughout the town contained 
small red, white and blue glasses, each with a burning 
candle, and jack-o-lanterns. One almost sensed the sigh 
of relief which must have been felt by each resident; a 
freedom as if just released from prison, though timorous 
lest the bonds had not been entirely severed. It was a time 
when sentiment arose in the breast unconsciously; a feel- 
ing of pathetic happiness for, and good will toward, the 
French. 

The weeks following the armistice did not begin to 
drag until all patients had been evacuated and virtually 
all of the hospital equipment had been sent away. These 
two facts accomplished, it was indeed tedious to perform 
only such duties as were necessary to existence while 
awaiting that magic word which would start the home- 
ward journey. 

The only interesting diversion during this period was 
furnished by the occasional automobile trips to the front. 
Whenever an ambulance was available parties of six or 
eight people were organized for a one or two day tour 
through the neighboring battle sectors. Doremy — the 
birthplace of Joan of Arc — was another point of interest 
that many of the personnel were afforded the opportunity 
of visiting. 

Though Thursday, November 28th, was Thanksgiving 
Day, the turkey "and trimmin's" did not arrive until 
December 3rd, when the entire organization was treated 



Packing Up 179 

to a dinner which would have been a credit to any hotel 
cuisine in the United States. Mess halls had been in vari- 
ous of the hospital buildings, but on this occasion all the 
men were seated at once in a large room which before had 
served as a ward room in the hospital. The meal con- 
sisted of roast turkey and dressing, peas, mashed potatoes, 
cold slaw, hot biscuits, jam and butter, pumpkin pie, 
doughnuts and cofifee, with a package of cigarettes thrown 
in for each man. It was a feast long to be remembered. 

Christmas Day was the occasion of a similar feast and a 
large holiday celebration for both the patients and the 
personnel. Thanks to the efforts of the American Red 
Cross, December 25, 19 18, was a real Christmas. Every 
one of the more than two thousand patients still in Con- 
trexeville shared in the Red Cross festivities. For the 
convalescent patients there was a splendid celebration in 
the Red Cross Hut. The main hall was beautifully deco- 
rated with a profusion of green. A large star of electric 
lights with the American flag draped beneath adorned 
one end of the hut, while a huge Christmas tree, bril- 
liantly illuminated and gaily decked, was at the other 
end. For the patients who were unable to leave their 
beds, the wards were attractively decorated with ever- 
greens and the Red Cross gifts were distributed at the 
beds. Every patient received a comfort bag containing 
one pound of candy, one pound of nuts, a package of 
cakes, one bar of chocolate, two boxes of cigarettes, one 
package of smoking tobacco, one box of matches, two 
handkerchiefs, one pair of socks and either a razor, pipe, 
toothbrush or some similar article. In addition to this, all 
of the patients unable to leave their beds received two 
oranges, cigars and chewing gum. 

The task of tearing down the hospital equipment and 
preparing it for shipment progressed steadily after the 



i8o A History of Base Hospital 32 

armistice, patients being concentrated into two of the five 
hospital buildings so that the equipment in the others 
might be packed and the buildings be cleaned for recom- 
mitment to the French. The first of the equipment was 
shipped in six box cars to Is-sur-Tille on the night of 
January loth. Following that, additional cars were sent 
almost daily until virtually everything in equipment ex- 
cept that necessary to the existence of the unit had been 
sent away. 

The Base Hospital 32 basketball team, organized by the 
enlisted men and coached by Captain Arthur E. Guedel, 
proved to be the unit's most successful venture in ath- 
letics. On January 4th they defeated Base Hospital 36 
by a score of 23 to 5, and a few days later won a hard- 
fought, overtime game from Base Hospital 31 by a score 
of 19 to 15. The only team in the Center that succeeded 
in defeating them was that of Base Hospital 23. 

During the last months in Contrexeville there were a 
great many transfers from the organization, particularly 
of those officers and men who were serving on temporary 
duty, or who had been assigned to the hospital as casuals. 
Captain J. E. Kelley was transferred from 32 on Novem- 
ber 13th; Lieutenant Stanley S. Reynolds on November 
15th; Captain Eugene B. Mumford on November 30th; 
Captain H. H. Varner on November 29th; Lieutenant J. 
V. Sparks on January 2nd; Captains C. W. Banner and 
Albert Barr on January 5th; Captain H. T. Youtz on 
January 13th; Lieutenants Van N.Verplanck and Chas. 
E. Wagner on January 23rd and Lieutenant Francis H. 
Murray on February 12th. 

From December on a number of the older officers were 
transferred from Base Hospital 32 for return to the 
United States. These fortunate and much envied indi- 
viduals were: Major Bernays Kennedy, who was trans- 
ferred on December 8th; Major Chas. D. Humes and 




THE QUARTERMASTER COMMISSARY 




THE CARPENTER SHOP 



Packing Up i8i 

Captain Harry F. Byrnes on January 2nd, and Majors 
A. B. Graham and Lafayette Page on January nth. 
Nurses Martha Berger and Amy Prosser were also re- 
turned to the United States on account of illness. 

The following nurses, who had expressed a preference 
to remain in the A. E. F., were transferred on January 13, 
1919, and sent into Germany for duty with the Third 
Army: Olga Anderson, Grace Bell, Viola Burleson, 
Mary Grim, Birda Hunt, Johanna Montgomery, Flor- 
ine Ostenzi, Elsie Peacock, Evelyn Potter, Anna Rohr, 
Ida Scholer and Hermina Wagner. 

On January 16, 1918, an order was received at head- 
quarters transferring sixteen nurses to Base Hospital 90. 
By this time practically every nurse in the unit had her 
heart set on going home. Most of them were packed up, 
ready for the return voyage. No names were mentioned 
in the order and the unpleasant task of selecting the vic- 
tims finally devolved on the Chief Nurse. It was decided 
to draw lots. The nurses were called in and the order 
was read and explained. There was a moment's hesita- 
tion. There never had been a time when it was neces- 
sary to draw lots or to conscript "32" nurses for any duty, 
and the volunteer spirit which had characterized the or- 
ganization from the start did not fail now. One nurse 
spoke up; then another, and another. The names came 
faster than they could be written down. The sixteen vol- 
unteers who were transferred to Base Hospital 90 were 
Esther Albright, Hazel Alkire, Dixie Borders, Nellie 
Davies, Sarah Greenhalgh, Kathryn O. Graber, Mabel 
Lusk, Alma Lancaster, Bertha Mahan, Clara Need, 
Agnes Swift, Ruth Totten, Grace Van Evera, Alys Weit- 
endorf, Olive Whitlock and Merle Wright. 

Efforts were made to have these nurses transferred back 
to "32" and a few weeks later, all of them with the excep- 
tion of Esther Albright, Dixie Borders and Alys Weiten- 



1 82 A History of Base Hospital 32 

dorf, who chose to remain in the A. E. F., were returned 
to the organization. 

On January 22, 1919, Lieutenant Colonel Edmund D. 
Clark, in accordance with orders received at that time, 
relinquished his command of Base Hospital 32 and was 
transferred to Angers for return to the United States. 
Following the transfer of Lieutenant Colonel Clark, 
Major James F. Clarke, of Unit R, assumed command 
of the hospital. 

It was at about this time also that Lieutenant George 
Schutte was relieved from duty as quartermaster and 
transferred to the Vittel Hospital Center. He was suc- 
ceeded by Lieutenant George Fishback, who had been 
commissioned in the quartermaster corps on December 
19, 1918. 

In addition to all of these transfers, there were a num- 
ber of losses in the enlisted personnel. Cyril A. Mc- 
Laughlin was transferred on January 9th, and Jay Con- 
naway, who had applied for discharge in France, on 
January 12th. Otto Asperger, Paul Mulcahy and Edd 
Hagamann were returned to the United States at different 
times on account of physical disability. During February 
practically all of the men who had been assigned to "32" 
from time to time, and who were not members of the 
original unit or of Unit R, were transferred to other 
organizations. 

Meanwhile there were a few additions to the personnel. 
On November 7th Chaplain John M. Lacy was assigned 
to Base Hospital 32 following the departure of Bishop 
Francis. Chaplain Lacy served with the organization 
until January 20th, when he was ordered to Marseilles. 
Lieutenants Arthur G. Buehler and Howard H. Buehler, 
D. R, C, were assigned on November i8th and January 
15th, respectively, and all of the Unit R officers who had 



Packing Up 183 

been transferred or absent on detached service, with the 
exception of Captain Fuller and Lieutenant Reimers, 
were returned to Base Hospital 32. 

On January 7, 1919, in accordance with orders received 
from the chief surgeon's office, Base Hospital 32 was 
officially closed. The three hundred and thirty-six pa- 
tients still in the hospital, most of whom were convales- 
cent, and had already been classified for return to the 
United States, were turned over to Base Hospital 31. 

The records show that from January, 1918, up until 
the time the hospital was closed, nine thousand six hun- 
dred and ninety-eight patients were cared for at Base 
Hospital 32. Of these, eight thousand five hundred and 
six, or approximately eighty-eight per cent, were Amer- 
ican; eight hundred and eighty- four were French; one 
hundred and nineteen, British, and one hundred and 
eighty-nine, German prisoners of war. 

Out of almost ten thousand patients only one hundred 
and eighteen died — a mortality rate of only 1.22 per cent. 
Five thousand and sixty-three patients were returned to 
duty, and the balance evacuated to other hospitals for 
convalescence. 

Statistics compiled in the registrar's office by Lieu- 
tenant C. C. Duck showing the monthly admissions and 
discharges, and the completion of all cases are reproduced 
on the following pages. 

These statistics vary somewhat from the surgical and 
medical section statistics given in Chapter IX. The vari- 
ations, however, do not affect the accuracy of the sta- 
tistics in either case, and are explained by intersectional 
transfers. It sometimes happened that medical patients 
were transferred to the surgical section for operation, and 
similarly surgical patients often developed disease and 
were transferred to the medical section for treatment. 



184 A History of Base Hospital 32 

ADMISSIONS 



Month 


Americans 


Allies* 


Germans 


Monthly 
Totals 


January 


2 






2 






February 


7 


2F 




9 


March 


407 


IF 




408 






April 


40 






40 






May 


151 


123 F 




274 






Tune 


425 


463 F 
117 B 


12 


1017 






July 


1285 


289 F 




1574 


J "* J 




August 


365 


6F 




371 






September 


2290 


2B 


27 


2319 


October 


2227 




74 


2301 






November 


749 




65 


814 


December ....... 


545 




11 


556 


Total for Year . . . 


8493 


1003 


189 


9685 


1919 
January 


13 






13 






Grand Total . . . 


8506 


1003 


189 


9698 



*F-French; B-British. 



Packing Up 



.85 



DISCHARGES 



To Duty 


Americans 

Trans, to 

other Hosp. 


Died 


Allies* 
to Duty 


Germans 
to Duty 


Monthly 
Totals 














2 


1 








3 


12 


1 


2 


2F 




17 


269 










269 


145 


6 




51 F 




202 


183 


25 


1 F 


323 F 
91 B 




623 


349 


48 


6 


350 F 
26 B 


12 


791 


850 


490 


2 


155 F 




1497 


263 


1407 


14 


2F 
2B 


27 


1715 


659 


1426 


57 
6 Ger. 




25 


2173 


386 


651 


11 
9 Ger. 




10 


1067 


687 


192 


9 

1 Ger. 




34 


923 


3805 


4247 


118 


1002 


108 


9280 


83 


270 






65 


418 


3888 


4517 


118 


1002 


173 


9698 



*F-French; B-British. 



1 86 A History of Base Hospital 32 

RECAPITULATION 

Admissions 

Americans 8,506 8771 % 

Allies 1,003 10.34^0 

Germans 189 i-95% 

9,698 

Completion of Cases 
Americans — 

Transferred to other hospitals. . 4,517 46.58% 

To duty 3,888 40.09^0 

Allies— 

To duty and transferred 1,002 10.33% 

Germans — 
To duty and transferred 173 1.78% 

Deaths — 

Americans loi 

French i 

Germans 16 118 1.22% 



XIV 

"Homeward Bound" 

ABOUT 4 o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, 
^February 19, 1919, a telegram was delivered to 
headquarters in the Providence Hotel which, in the an- 
nals of the organization, shall rank next in importance to 
that which spread the glad tidings that the armistice had 
been signed. This memorable message decreed that the 
personnel of the organization — the officers and enlisted 
men — would entrain for Nantes shortly before 6 o'clock 
on the following evening; it ordered, also, that the nurses 
and female civilian employees should leave early in the 
morning, in company with one officer and one enlisted 
man, for La Baule, a small resort on the west coast of 
France in the vicinity of St. Nazaire. 

In spite of the fact that the organization had been 
working at top speed for some weeks to be ready when the 
word arrived to start for home, members of the unit 
found themselves faced with the tremendous task of pack- 
ing and loading baggage, policing quarters, getting the 
nurses on their way, and winding up other official business 
all within a twenty-four-hour period. 

The remainder of the short evening of February 19th 
held forth no rest; it heard not the plaintive peal of taps; 
it witnessed little or no military courtesy; it saw few 
lights extinguished ere the small hours of the morning. 
All fell to their assigned and personal tasks of prepara- 
tion with the vim which had been exemplified in times of 
the more serious battles of the war, when trainloads of 
wrecked humanity had been sent on for tender and ef- 
ficient care. 

Together with Captain McGuire and Sergeant Lukens, 

■87 



i88 A History of Base Hospital 32 

the nurses and civilian employes were started on their 
way early in the morning, leaving the remainder of the 
organization, as it proved to be, "for keeps." 

After their departure, Contrexeville witnessed a day as 
busy as any had been during the war, so that by the time 
the train was boarded members of the organization were 
desperately tired, but exceedingly happy. That part 
of the freight train allotted to the unit consisted of one 
third-class coach for officers, five for enlisted men, and 
three box cars for baggage and kitchen. The kitchen car 
required considerable preparation to adapt it to service. 
Under the direction of Lieutenant Callis a regulation 
army field kitchen was installed in one end and sur- 
rounded with a foot of sand to provide insulation. A 
week's supply of rations, together with the mess gear and 
sufficient wood for fuel, were loaded in the other end. 
The headquarters office was located in a French mail car, 
which served excellently for office purposes. 

Just a few hours prior to the departure of the train a 
telegram was received relieving Lieutenant Reel from 
further duty with the hospital and transferring him else- 
where for discharge in France. This order came in re- 
sponse to an application for discharge which Lieutenant 
Reel had filed some time before in order that he might 
accept a position which had been offered him in the Paris 
offices of a well-known American firm. Succeeding Lieu- 
tenant Reel, Lieutenant Duck was appointed detachment 
commander. 

Contrexeville's limited population was pretty well rep- 
resented at the station when the train pulled out, amidst 
shouting and whistling from within as well as without 
the cars. Despite the fact that every member of the or- 
ganization was as eager as possible to be on the way, 
actually living those magic words which hitherto had 
been so reverently spoken — "homeward bound" — it was 




LALLEMONT'S 




CAFE DE LA GARE 



"Homeward Bound" 189 

not without some pangs of regret that the last goodbye 
was waved and shouted. It could not have been otherwise. 
Human nature requires a certain tie of friendship after 
sixteen months of constant association. 

The fact that the train to which the special cars were 
attached was a freight train may or may not mean much, 
if left to stand without explanation that French passenger 
trains are notoriously slow and freight trains are oper- 
ated in proportion. Consequently, the train established 
no speed records during the evening, and daylight found 
the section detached from anything movable in the yards 
at Chalindrey, which, after all is said and done, is only 
some fifty or sixty miles from Contrexeville. Efforts were 
made throughout the morning to have the cars attached 
to something west bound, and finally about 2 p. m. con- 
nection was made with a snail-like freight train which 
crept along throughout the afternoon, hardly exceeding 
walking speed at any time. 

Short stops were made in Langres and Chaumont, the 
latter being reached about dusk. After having passed 
Chaumont the train made a little better speed, and within 
a reasonably short time Bar-Sur-Aube was reached, where 
the cars were again placed on a side track. This time, 
however, the delay was not without its compensation, for 
facilities were at hand for washing, and poilus were pres- 
ent with the famous vin rouge at bargain day prices. An 
evening meal was served alongside the train, and within 
two hours after the stop the cars had been attached to an- 
other train which wound up in the railroad yards just out- 
side Brienne-le-Chateau about 11 :30 at night. 

Protests against further delay, which were placed at a 
near-by roundhouse after the cars had been sidetracked 
and the engine "put to bed," fell on deaf ears, so the night 
of February 21st was spent in the yards. 

Early morning brought encouragement when an engine 



I90 A History of Base Hospital 32 

took hold and started ofif with the train on a trip which 
proved to be the shortest of the journey, as it terminated 
in the station at Brienne-le-Chateau. The engine left, and 
that was that. Pitiful pleas, cigarettes and tobacco in 
large quantities, promises of everlasting friendship and 
even five hundred francs failed to obtain from the chef- 
de-gare an engine with which to proceed, though he was 
"exceedingly sorry and equally helpless in the matter." 
The only encouragement he could lend was that maybe 
the cars might be moved about noon. It was about eight 
o'clock in the morning when this cheerful information 
was received. 

Although it was late in the afternoon before the train 
left, the long day was not without its compensations in 
Brienne-le-Chateau. As the name of the town would sug- 
gest, a beautiful chateau stands on a hilltop, commanding 
a view which is equalled only in other parts of France. 
Not far from the chateau exists a school which Napoleon 
attended as a boy. A bronze tablet with a bas-relief of 
the great leader adorns one post at the entrance and bears 
this inscription: "Brienne-le-Chateau is the place I call 
home. It was here I first got my ideas of the man." 

The noon meal was served on the freight loading plat- 
form at the station shortly after members of the organi- 
zation under Lieutenant Duck, as detachment com- 
mander, had visited the chateau and school. The early 
part of the afternoon found a certain amount of unrest in 
the ranks, which was dissipated somewhat upon the ar- 
rival of an Italian troop train which stopped alongside. 
Fraternization followed immediately, and within a short 
time after their arrival the newcomers had called forth 
their band. Souvenirs were exchanged hastily, and after 
a halt of about thirty minutes the Italians left. 

Traveling under such abnormal conditions, and in a 
constant state of uncertainty made meal times distress- 



"Homeward Bound" 191 

ingly irregular. As a matter of fact it became necessary 
to ask the engineer of the train at each stop whether he 
would remain stationary long enough to serve such ra- 
tions as could be hurriedly prepared. However, after 
having remained in Brienne all day, little fear was felt 
that there would not be plenty of time for an evening meal 
somewhere along the way. The train finally started about 
four o'clock. It was known that the route was through 
Troyes, and the mess detail prepared to serve at that sta- 
tion. Troyes, however, as matters developed, "meant 
nothing in our young lives" in so far as food entered the 
discussion, because the stop did not exceed five minutes, 
nor, what was worse, did the train stop again until it 
pulled into the yards at Sens about 1 1 130 p. m., after most 
of the men had "turned in" for the night. All were 
aroused, however, and many partook of the delayed eve- 
ning meal. 

Once more the cars were detached and left in the yards 
all night, but the departure the next morning came with- 
out much delay, at about eight o'clock. Shortly before 
noon the train pulled into the station at Montargis, where 
half an hour was allotted for lunch, after which the more 
or less snail-like speed was resumed until the station at 
Orleans was reached early in the afternoon. About five 
o'clock an American train crew with one of the enormous 
American engines, which had been sent from the United 
States, connected with the train, and from that time until 
about 1 1 130 at night considerably more speed was ex- 
hibited than during any stretch of the journey. 

The resting place for the night of February 23rd was 
in the enormous yards at St. Pierre-des-Corps, a suburb 
of Tours, American Headquarters, S. O. S. Proximity to 
headquarters may have had something to do with it; 
prayers for more speed may have been answered, or still 
other influences may have been at work, but at all odds 



192 A History of Base Hospital 32 

the start from St. Pierre was made about three o'clock in 
the morning and daylight found the train in the sheds at 
Saumur for a short stop. Breakfast was served in the rail- 
road yards at Angers about 8 130, and from that time until 
noon a steady speed was maintained, no stop being made 
until the destination — Nantes — was reached. 

There it became known that a four-mile hike with full 
packs was imminent, the object being St. Sebastien, a 
suburb of Nantes, where it was supposed a stop of a few 
days would be made prior to passing on to St. Nazaire for 
passage back to "God's country." 

The afternoon was spent in locating billets in old 
houses, in barns, over stores, above garages and in other 
vacant spaces which were sufficiently large to accommo- 
date a few men, on the floor. A detail in charge of Cap- 
tain Moore had preceded the organization, having left 
on the morning of February 20th by passenger train, in 
order properly to assign billets. Therefore little confu- 
sion resulted when the organization arrived. 

The first few days in St. Sebastien were fraught with 
wild rumors as to the possibility of moving toward home ; 
likewise were they productive of a vast amount of work 
for a certain portion of the organization in preparing for 
the examinations which had to be passed before permis- 
sion to continue the homeward journey would be forth- 
coming. Here again rumors ran rampant; the most 
severe officers in the army conducted the examinations; 
the penalties for the slightest failure to pass an examina- 
tion were terrible, entailing an additional residence in St. 
Sebastien of not less than three weeks ; some organizations 
even had been sent back to Germany for further service 
because of their actions in the billeting areas. All these 
and more were subjects of common conversation. 

One bright spot in all these gloomy speculations was 



"Homeward Bound" 193 

the discovery that Lieutenant Ray Randall of Indian- 
apolis was on duty in the headquarters office of the Nantes 
area as embarkation adjutant. Lieutenant Randall had 
many friends in 32's personnel, and assisted the organiza- 
tion materially in the preparation for the final inspections 
and the vast quantity of paper work required before their 
departure. 

The arrival in St. Sebastien was on Monday, February 
24th. On the following day it became known definitely 
that the nurses and civilian employees would not rejoin the 
balance of the unit. Word was received to send their bag- 
gage on to St. Nazaire, from which port it was thought 
that they would probably sail within a few days. On 
March 2nd, however, the nurses received orders to pro- 
ceed to Brest, and here they boarded the U. S. Transport 
America, and sailed for the United States on March 4th. 
Nine days later, on March 13th, they arrived in New 
York and reported at the Nurses Demobilization Station, 
Hotel Albert, and from here received transportation to 
their respective homes. Owing to lack of room on the 
America, the following nurses remained at La Baule and 
later returned to the United States on the S. S. Louisville, 
arriving in New York March 22nd: Golda F. Smith, 
Agnes Swift, Elsie Thompson, Helen A. Thompson, Ad- 
die Threlkeld, Ruth Totten, Eva B. VanDyke, Grace 
Van Evera, Bessie Whitaker, Olive Whitlock, Merl Moss 
Wright and Gertrude Stefifen (civilan employee). 

Meanwhile the first few days at St. Sebastien were 
spent in preparation for the examinations, which con- 
sisted of inspection of all paper work and of the equip- 
ment and physical condition of the personnel. The men 
not occupied constantly in preparatory work spent their 
time drilling because it became known that certain drill 
work would be called for along with the equipment exam- 



194 -^ History of Base Hospital 32 

ination. On Tuesday, March 4th, promotions came for 
several of the officers, including Major James F. Clarke, 
to be lieutenant-colonel; Captain Gray to be major, and 
Lieutenants Frank Walker, Beeler, Ricketts, Crow, Weh- 
man, A. G. Buehler and H. H. Buehler to be captains. 
It was on the same date that Lieutenant Colonel Clarke 
reported the organization as being ready for examination, 
and answer was received that the equipment inspection 
would be held Thursday. 

Few beehives or anthills have seen more activity in a 
twenty-four-hour period than that which was exhibited in 
St. Sebastien on Wednesday, so that by the time the men 
went to their bunks at night the town was in perfect order. 

The next morning — the fearful one — dawned on a 
spick and span organization of Uncle Sam's men, the 
peers of whom probably did not exist in the A. E. F. The 
inspecting officers came, conducted their business in an 
orderly manner, and left with the statements that the or- 
ganization was one of the best they had inspected since 
having been assigned to that duty by headquarters at 
Nantes. 

The afternoon of that day saw the following officers 
promoted: Captain Meyer to be major, and Lieutenants 
Hurt, Funkhouser, E. E. Johnston, Quimby, Hitz and 
D. S. Walker to be captains. 

The night's sleep was broken for some when Walker 
Marshall fell from his billet on the second floor of a barn 
to the hard cobblestone street below and was left stunned. 
It was a matter of several weeks before all the "kinks" 
were overcome. 

Friday saw the paper work inspected and passed, leav- 
ing only the physical tests between the unit and departure 
for St. Nazaire, so once more "open season" was pro- 
claimed for rumors. That day chanced to be March 7th. 



"Homeward Bound" 195 

It was April 9th when the journey onward was continued, 
leaving a full month, during which time weighed very 
heavily, as the only possible anticipations were those of 
continuing the trip. Only occasional long hikes through 
the surrounding country and trips into Nantes, where an 
excellent opera could be heard almost any evening, broke 
the strain of impatient waiting. A canteen offering a lib- 
eral assortment of candy, cigarettes and "Lu-Lu Biscuits" 
was established by "Red" Jackson and did a flourishing 
business. 

Comrades who had been hard by in Contrexeville for 
many months — members of Base Hospital 31 of Youngs- 
town, Ohio — once more became comrades on Sunday, 
March i6th, when their train pulled into Nantes after the 
tedious trip from Contrexeville. They too were billeted 
in St. Sebastien. 

Sad news broke into camp on the following Sunday, 
March 23rd, when word was received from Nantes that 
"Dad" Bryant, a cook with the organization, had been 
found dead on the street the preceding day. Bryant, past 
middle age, had served with a line organization, but was 
sent to the hospital for treatment after some time at the 
front, where doctors said his constitution could not stand 
the strain. Upon reaching the convalescent state, he soon 
proved himself to be a good cook, so the red tape was 
started in an effort to effect his transfer to the organiza- 
tion, which ultimately was brought about. 

Thursday, April 3rd, saw a track and field meet in St. 
Sebastien, the participating organizations being Base 
Hospitals 32, 41 and 45, Mobile Hospital i and Evacua- 
tion Hospital I, the members of 32 winning the meet in a 
fairly easy manner. 

On the same day word was received that all of the 
officers would leave the following morning for St. Na- 



196 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Zaire to board a homeward-bound ship, with the excep- 
tion of Major Gray, Captains Hitz and Quimby, Lieu- 
tenants Callis and Fishback, whose fates it was thought 
at the time were definitely sealed with those of the men. 
The officers who left for St. Nazaire at this time were 
Lieutenant Colonels J. F. Clarke and H. J. Whitacre, 
Majors J. F. Herrick and A. H. Meyer, Captains J. W. 
Ricketts, E. E. Johnston, E. H. Buehler, E. Funkhouser, 
F. C. Walker, D. S. Walker, L. D. James, A. G. Buehler, 
P. T. Hurt, L N. Crow, E. J. Wehman and R. C. Beeler 
and Lieutenants F. R. Mehler, K. L. Johnston and C. C. 
Duck. The following day these officers boarded the U. S. 
S. Zeelandia, sailing from St. Nazaire on April 5th and 
arriving at Charleston, S. C, April 17th. From here they 
proceeded to Camp Jackson, Columbia, S. C, where a 
few of them were discharged and others received trans- 
portation to discharge camps nearest their respective 
homes. 

On April 8th, five days after the departure of these 
officers from St. Sebastien, the discouraged and impatient 
remnants of 32, now under the command of Major Gray, 
received the following order : 

Services of Supply 
Headquarters U. S. Troops, Nantes 
Base Section No. 1 
Special Orders April 8, 1919. 

No. 99 Extract. 

2. Pursuant to telegraphic instructions (47-Gl-B) Headquarters, 
Base Section No. 1, dated April 8, 1919, the following-named or- 
ganizations : 

^ Uli iji :): :|c 

Base Hospital No. 32 — St. Sebastien — 5 officers and 136 enlisted 
men, 

will proceed from stations set opposite their organizations, on April 
9, 1919, to St. Nazaire, Loire Inf., reporting upon arrival to the 




DETAIL I \S lAI.I.I.Ni. lA.XK Al i,AK\i,l, 




•BAKIXC" l.\ THE GLASS HOL'SE 



"Homeward Bound" 197 

Commanding Officer, Embarkation Camp, for return to the United 
States, on the first available transports. 

The R. T. O. will furnish the necessary transportation. 
The journey directed is necessary in the public service. 
By order of Colonel Knudsen. 
Official : Clark P. Chandler, 

J. F, Stevens, Chief of Staff. 

Adjutant. 

In anticipation of these glad tidings, the "house had 
been put in order," so that little was left to be done the 
next morning other than to roll packs and "police" billets, 
which was accomplished in "jig time." 

The start from the station at Nantes was made at two 
o'clock in the afternoon of April 9th, and the train ar- 
rived in St. Nazaire about five o'clock. The members of 
the organization were conducted to what was known as 
Embarkation Camp No. 2 and set down in the midst of 
thousands of others whose eyes focused clearly in one 
direction only — the west — which at that time was synony- 
mous with home. 

Early next morning found the men taking the chief 
role in what was more or less affectionately termed a 
"three-ring circus," but which in fact was another exami- 
nation — physical this time. The name was occasioned by 
the manner in which the examination was conducted 
within the walls of a large building with various stalls, 
fenced areas, aisles and other mazes. It required some 
fifteen minutes to complete the examination of approxi- 
mately 180 men from head to foot. In soldiers' terms, it 
was "very snappy." 

Glad tidings were received immediately after the ex- 
amination, when a detail of sixty men was called for duty 
all day as kitchen police at the general mess hall where 
thousands were fed at each meal. No soldier went to any 
assigned task grumbling, but in truth it must be said that 



198 A History of Base Hospital 32 

the sixty "lucky" men did not fall to this job in any spirit 
of careless abandon. They did the work nobly, however; 
so nobly that a note was sent to the commanding officer 
saying it was the best detail that had served in the kitchen 
at any time since the camp had been opened. 

The glory of the commendatory note was dampened 
somewhat the next morning when a request came for an 
additional sixty men to serve for the second day. Fortu- 
nately for the men, however, word was received soon after 
to the effect that the unit would move at three o'clock 
in the afternoon to Camp No. i, which was one step 
nearer home. The move was made on schedule time, and 
the men went through the second "three-ring circus" in 
as many days, this trip being through the delousing plant, 
where, in addition to eradicating the pests, if they existed, 
a competent system of wrinkling and shrinking clothes in 
their delousing process had been devised. 

Word was received from the camp adjutant in the eve- 
ning of that day, April nth, that the entire enlisted per- 
sonnel of the unit, together with two officers, would board 
the U. S. S. Freedom on April 13th and start the return 
ocean journey. The two officers selected were Major 
Gray and Captain Hitz, which left Captain Quimby and 
Lieutenants Callis and Fishback as casuals. 

During the seven weeks that Base Hospital 32 had 
spent in the embarkation area there were a number of 
changes in personnel in addition to those already men- 
tioned. On March 7th Captain Robert M. Moore was 
transferred to the embarkation center at LeMans for duty. 
Other transfers, resulting in most cases from application 
for discharge in France, caused the following names to 
be dropped from the sailing lists: Jay B. McElwayne, 
John McArdle, William N. McClure and Winters Fehr. 

The sailing lists as finally approved contained the 




FIRST ETAGE, HOSPITAL A 




KITCHEN, HOSPITAL A 



"Homeward Bound" 199 

names of two officers and 179 enlisted men, of whom 130 
were members of the original unit of Base Hospital 32 
and forty-nine of Unit R. 

Saturday, April 12th, found the men passing what 
proved to be their last inspection of any kind in France, 
when in the morning they laid out their packs before the 
examining officers. 

Early on the morning of Sunday, April 13th, the men 
lined up on the rain-soaked parade grounds, and shortly 
after daybreak started on the two-mile march to the docks. 
It was raining, but for all that it was about the brightest, 
sunniest day in 32's history, and the men filed up the gang- 
plank wet but happy with the knowledge that the long- 
awaited sailing orders had finlly come true. At about 
noon the Freedom cast ofif and amid the cheers and songs 
of those on board pulled slowly out to sea. 

The Freedom, a small German freighter of doubtful 
seaworthiness, which had recently been converted into a 
transport, was built along the general lines of a toothpick. 
What she lacked in beam she made up in length. 
Whether or not this peculiar construction was respon- 
sible for her even more peculiar actions at sea is not 
known. She had a sickening habit of rolling from one 
side to the other with the regularity of a pendulum. 
Rough weather or calm mattered little. The Freedom 
rolled on through the smoothest seas, giving a perfect imi- 
tation of a floundering ship battling with the after swell 
of a hurricane. 

Inquiry among the crew developed that the Freedom 
was rated as a "ten-day" boat, but this was her maiden 
voyage as a transport, and her time was largely a matter 
of speculation. In addition to her crew, the Freedom ac- 
commodated twenty-seven officers and some twelve hun- 
dred men. Among the other organizations on board were 



200 A History of Base Hospital 32 

Base Hospital 25 of Cincinnati, Base Hospital 19 of 
Rochester and Base Hospital 17 of Detroit. 

Captain Ray L. Huff of Parnassus, Pa., commanding 
officer of the First Trench Mortar Battery, was military 
commander of the boat and Colonel L. D. Carter was 
chief medical officer. 

Except for the "abandon ship" drills — grim reminders 
of the days on the George Washington — there was little 
to suggest the former voyage. Port-holes were opened 
wide, lights were unveiled, and the men smoked on deck 
after dark at their pleasure. The ship's course and loca- 
tion, instead of being the dark secret that it was on the 
former voyage, was posted daily in the officers' dining 
room, and crowds of homesick passengers marked the 
progress and measured the distance still to be covered. 

Fatigue clothes were issued to the men to protect their 
regulation uniforms. Sleeping quarters were policed 
daily, and frequent physical inspections served to kill 
time if nothing more. A boxing match was staged on the 
well deck one evening, and one morning a school of 
whales, blowing and splashing not far from the ship, pro- 
vided a novel but brief entertainment. 

For the most part, however, the voyage was uneventful 
and tiresome. With the Freedom a week out of St. Na- 
zaire and still not half across, it became apparent that she 
lacked a good deal of being a ten-day boat. Rough 
weather had slowed her up in the Bay of Biscay, but even 
in a calm sea she seemed to fairly creep along. The days 
dragged by. The ship's canteen ran out of everything 
desirable, as ship's canteens have a habit of doing. 
The mess deteriorated. The U. S. S. Leviathan which, 
eastward bound to Brest, had passed the Freedom on the 
second day out, passed her again on the twelfth day west- 
ward bound. Frantic cries from the Freedom to "throw 



''Homeward Bound" 201 

us a line" and "give us a tow" fell on deaf ears, and the 
Leviathan steamed on, and was a mere speck on the west- 
ern horizon in less than an hour. 

Saturday, April 26th, the thirteenth day out from St. 
Nazaire, marked the beginning of the last lap of the 
homeward voyage. The chart on the bulletin board 
showed the Freedom a scant forty-eight hours from shore, 
and it was definitely announced for the first time that the 
port of debarkation would be New York. Heretofore the 
Freedom's destination had been a matter of speculation 
depending entirely upon wireless instructions to be re- 
ceived as the ship approached the United States. 

On Sunday, April 27th, hopes and anticipations ran 
high. A number of wireless messages were delivered 
from waiting relatives and friends. Orders and instruc- 
tions were issued in regard to debarkation, and the order 
in which the different organizations would debark was 
announced. Fatigue clothes were turned back to the ship, 
and the men donned their regulation uniforms. It was 
no mere rumor. The Freedom was due into port at an 
early hour the following morning, Monday, April 28th, 
the fifteenth day out of St. Nazaire. 

Dawn found everybody up, with the Freedom just out- 
side the harbor. Then, through lifting mists a kaleido- 
scopic panorama that will never be forgotten — the Statue 
of Liberty, a sky line of majestic buildings, battleships 
and fantastically camouflaged steamers. There was a 
short delay while quarantine officials boarded the boat, 
and then the Freedom, amid cheers and music and the in- 
cessant tooting of a hundred whistles, threaded her way 
into port and docked on the Brooklyn side. 

By ten o'clock the personnel of Base Hospital 32 was 
off the Freedom, and by noon the baggage was unloaded 
and sorted up on the pier. Scarcely a block away a recep- 



202 A History of Base Hospital 32 

tion committee of the Base Hospital 32 Auxiliary Asso- 
ciation and a little group of relatives and friends waited 
in the hope of gaining access to the pier. But they might 
just as well have stayed in New York. A dozen guards 
offered an impregnable barrier in either direction. 
Bribes, threats and persuasion availed nothing. No one 
left the pier and no one entered it. A few notes and mes- 
sages were exchanged, but that was all. 

Lunch was served on the dock, and the time dragged 
by. As accustomed as the unit was to delays, they found 
this wait on the pier the most trying of all. It was almost 
five o'clock when the ferry finally appeared and the men 
filed on. A few minutes later they were on the other side, 
where, after another brief delay and an excellent supper 
served "on the run" by the Red Cross, they boarded an 
electric train for Camp Mills. Here they were met by 
guides and marched to the tents assigned them. 

Four days were spent at Camp Mills with little to take 
up the time except the usual physical examinations and a 
few exchanges and replacements of clothing at the quar- 
termaster depot. On Friday, May 2nd, Major Gray, Cap- 
tain Hitz and all of the remaining enlisted men of the 
original unit were transferred to Camp Merrit, New Jer- 
sey, leaving behind the forty-nine enlisted men of Unit R 
— then known as the Camp Dodge detachment of Base 
Hospital 32. 

On Monday, May 5th, after three days at Camp Mer- 
ritt. Base Hospital 32 boarded a train for Camp Zachary 
Taylor with the 150th Field Artillery under the com- 
mand of Colonel Robert Tyndall of Indianapolis. The 
train was routed over the New York Central Lines to In- 
dianapolis, where it was to arrive on May 7th and remain 
all day, allowing the organization to participate in the 
Victory parade, a feature of the Indianapolis home- 



"Homeward Bound" 203 

coming celebration. The arrival at Indianapolis on the 
morning of the 7th marked another day that will live long 
in the memory of "32." Seventeen months had passed since 
their departure from Fort Harrison, December i, 1917, 
and to most of the men Indianapolis meant "home." Fa- 
miliar stations where newsboys called the Indianapolis 
Star marked the train's approach to the city. Then the 
suburbs, and Indianapolis — Brightwood, Massachusetts 
Avenue, and a glimpse of the monument standing out 
against an old familiar skyline. 

It was about nine o'clock when the train pulled in and 
stopped west of the Union Station. Here, after a brief 
delay "32" detrained and marched directly to Military 
Park, where crowds of relatives and friends, and many of 
the "32" officers were gathered to meet them. Luncheon 
and refreshments were distributed freely. Nobody's 
money was good. Little groups of reunited families 
chatted gayly; old friends greeted one another after 
months of separation. Two hours passed quickly and then 
the parade began to form. 

Delay followed delay, but the parade finally started. 
Indianapolis was in gala attire for the celebration. A 
thousand flags marked the line of march and enthusiastic 
crowds lined the streets — east on Washington to Alabama, 
back to Meridian, up Meridian to the monument, through 
the fiower-strewn victory arch and around the Circle, 
then north and east to Delaware Street, out Delaware to 
Sixteenth, west to Meridian and south again to the Circle. 
It was late afternoon when the parade reached Washing- 
ton Street again and "32" marched directly to the waiting 
train. 

About nine o'clock that night the train pulled into 
Camp Taylor, and the following morning the business of 
getting out of the army began. Thursday and Friday 



204 A History of Base Hospital 32 

were spent in checking the organization records and turn- 
ing them in to the camp authorities, together with all of 
the remaining organization equipment. Meanwhile the 
members of the unit were occupied with physical exami- 
nations, lectures, and the signing of an endless variety of 
papers, all necessary to comply with the requirements of 
discharge. Individual equipment in excess of the items 
of uniform allowed each man upon leaving the service 
were taken up by the camp quartermaster, and the men 
received their final pay, together with the authorized 
bonus, and transportation to their homes. 

On Saturday, May 10, 1919, every member of the unit 
was honorably discharged, and Base Hospital 32 ceased 
to exist. 

Two days later the forty-nine enlisted men of Hospital 
Unit R were discharged at Camp Dodge. With the trans- 
fer of Base Hospital No. 32 under the command of Major 
Gray to Camp Merritt, these men, known then as Camp 
Dodge Detachment of Base Hospital No. 32, were left at 
Camp Mills. 

They remained there for ten days with nothing to do 
but go sightseeing in New York, and then on May 9th 
boarded a train with 300 other troops under the command 
of Second Lieutenant C. D. Kaslen of Huron, S. D., and 
left at seven o'clock that evening for Des Moines. The 
next morning about ten o'clock the train arrived at Niag- 
ara Falls. Three hours were spent there, and then, speed- 
ing through a section of Canada, Detroit was reached at 
eight o'clock that night. Coming into Chicago the next 
morning the train was switched from the Wabash and 
Grand Trunk tracks to the Rock Island, and the last lap 
of the trip was begun. 

At three o'clock on what seemed to them to be the most 
beautiful of all Iowa Sunday afternoons, the men of Hos- 




WINTER SCENE NEAR CONTREXeVILLE 







<-A<^ 






iUNDLING FAGOTS 



"Homeward Bound" 205 

pital Unit R crossed over the Mississippi singing, "Iowa, 
My Iowa." It was the first vision of their beloved state in 
eighteen months, and a very different vision than they had 
when they left Fairfield in a blinding snowstorm two 
winters before. 

At eight o'clock they reached Des Moines and two 
hours later were installed at Camp Dodge. By 6 p. m. 
the next day, Monday, May 12, 1919, all the members had 
been discharged from the service and were on the way to 
their homes in the southeastern corner of Iowa. 



XV 

The Auxiliary Association 

TWO weeks after the departure of Base Hospital 32 
from Fort Benjamin Harrison a letter signed by 
Richard O. Johnson, the father of Richard K. Johnson, a 
member of the unit, was sent to the near relatives of the 
officers, nurses, enlisted men and civilian employees, sug- 
gesting the advisability of organizing an auxiliary asso- 
ciation to provide gifts and comforts for the unit. Mr. 
Johnson urged all who might be interested to attend a 
meeting in the Palm Room of the Claypool Hotel on 
December 18. 

His suggestion met with an immediate and enthusiastic 
response. More than three hundred relatives and friends 
of members of the unit were present at the meeting, where 
Mr. Johnson was nominated as permanent chairman of 
the association, and an organization committee composed 
of the following persons was appointed: J. K. Lilly, 
W. P. Herod, Benjamin F. Hitz, Charles B. Maugham, 
Cass Connaway, Mrs. Edward J. O'Reilly, Mrs. P. E. 
McCown and Mrs. E. B. Mumford. 

The organization adopted the name : Auxiliary Associ- 
ation of Base Hospital 32, and Mr. Johnson, the president, 
through correspondence with Surgeon General William C. 
Gorgas, secured the official endorsement of the Medical 
Department of the U. S. Army for the association. The 
following cablegram was sent to the unit shortly after the 
first meeting: "Your home auxiliary, composed of rela- 
tives and friends, officered and organizing with prospec- 
tive membership of several hundred, greets you, your of- 
ficers and members of unit. Advise us at once of any 
funds or material required, or any services we can render 
now or at any time. We are in with you to the finish." 

206 



The Auxiliary Association 207 

The officers of the association, in addition to Mr. John- 
son, were: Charles B. Maugham, secretary; Benjamin F. 
Hitz, treasurer; Rev. Lewis Brown, chaplain, and Mrs. 
Benjamin D. Hitz, corresponding secretary. 

The executive committee, of which Mr. Johnson was 
chairman, was composed of the officers and J. K. Lilly, 
Dr. O. G. Pfaff, W. P. Herod, Cass Connaway, J. B. Giles, 
Mrs. H. R. Beery, Mrs. E. D. Clark, Mrs. Bernays Ken- 
nedy, Miss Margaret McCuUoch, Mrs. E. B. Mumford, 
Miss Ruth Maxwell, Mrs. P. E. McCown, Mrs. Edward 
Dean, Mrs. E. J. O'Reilly and John F. Russell. 

Mr. Johnson was chairman of the finance committee, 
Mr. Benjamin F. Hitz of the transportation committee, 
Mr. Charles B. Maugham of the publicity committee, 
Dr. O. G. Pfafif of the medical advisory committee. Rev. 
Lewis Brown of the home relief advisory committee, Mr. 
Cass Connaway of the legal advisory committee, Mr. 
Wm. Pirtle Herod of the information and communica- 
tion committee and Miss Margaret Gerin of the nurses 
advisory committee. 

Mrs. Bernays Kennedy was elected general chairman 
of twenty comfort committees headed by the following 
women: Mrs. A. B. Graham, Mrs. C. D. Humes, Mrs. 
E. B. Mumford, Miss Ruth Maxwell, Mrs. G. L. Sparks, 
Mrs. Cass Connaway, Mrs. A. E. Sanagan, Mrs. H. A. 
Porter, Miss G. F. McHugh, Mrs. E. H. Dean, Mrs. E. 
J. O'Reilly, Mrs. J. R. Maugham, Mrs. T. O. Callis, 
Mrs. B. F. Hitz, Mrs. R. C. Beeler, Mrs. P. T. Hurt, 
Mrs. W. Baldwin, Mrs. Steffen and Mrs. R. O. Johnson. 

Headquarters for the comfort committee were opened 
at 45 Monument Circle, over the Circle Flower Store, 
and here supplies of wool for socks were given out, fin- 
ished articles turned in, boxes packed and meetings held. 
Mrs. P. E. McCown became chairman of the supplies 
and packing committee. 



2o8 A History of Base Hospital 32 

In January the auxiliary association ordered fifty boxes 
of apples shipped from New York to the base hospital. 
Early in May a letter was received from Major H. H. 
Van Kirk, commanding officer of Base Hospital 32, 
acknowledging the receipt of the apples, which had ar- 
rived in excellent condition and were much appreciated. 

The membership fee for the auxiliary association was 
fixed at $5.00 a year and membership blanks were mailed 
to all those who were likely to be interested. The response 
was encouraging, and in the course of three months more 
than two hundred members were enrolled. 

The Brunswick Shop very kindly donated a phono- 
graph and a number of records to the base hospital, and 
through the co-operation of the auxiliary association these 
articles were shipped to the unit and proved a very wel- 
come gift. 

A large quantity of yarn for socks was purchased by the 
auxiliary association with funds from the treasury and 
was distributed by the comfort committees to be knitted. 
During the winter 425 pairs of wool socks, a number of 
bright-colored knitted afghans, several bed quilts and pil- 
lows and a comfort kit for each nurse in the unit were 
collected and packed. Various difficulties with govern- 
ment shipping regulations delayed the shipment of these 
articles, but they were sent late in the spring and received 
by the unit in the summer. 

The comfort committee attended to the making, pack- 
ing and shipping of gray sleeveless sweaters for the nurses 
to wear over their uniforms. These sweaters formed the 
last shipment to Base Hospital 32 made by the auxiliary 
association, for with the signing of the armistice on No- 
vember 1 1 the activities of the association ceased. Various 
articles collected after the shipment of nurses' sweaters — 
handkerchiefs, socks, afghans and other things — were 



The Auxiliary Association 209 

turned over to the Near East Relief Fund, according to 
the decision of the executive committee. 

The following is a list of the members of the Auxiliary 
Association of Base Hospital 32: 

Mrs. Anna Alkire, Gertrude F. Allen, Joel E. Allen, Mrs. Neff 
Ashworth, George F. Asperger, William H. Avant ; 

Mrs. W. H. Baker, Mrs. Wilbur Baldwin, Mrs. H. Power Ball, 
John H, Bechtel, Mrs. Raymond C. Beeler, Mrs. Harry R, Beery, 
Mrs. Bruce Bendley, Albert Berg, Mrs. L. W. Berry, Iradell Bean, 
Dr. R. J. Blakeman, Walter Bonner, H. L. Blumenthal, Mrs. C. S. 
Bradley, Rev. Lewis Brown, Geo. A. Bittler, Helen T. Brosnan, 
James G. Brosnan, Myrtle Brooks, Orilla Borders, Helen Burdette, 
Mrs. Mary D. Byrnes ; 

Annie Galley, Mrs. T. O. Callis, Mrs. Margaret Carroll, Margaret 
Cassidy, Mrs. Alice M. Cathcart, E. L. Cline, Mrs. Mayme Beeler 
Combs, Cass Connaway, Mrs. J. L. Cooke, John L. Cooke, Charles 
M. Cooper, Mrs. Nellie Corrigan, Mary E. Corrigan, Mrs. Benjamin 
Cotharin, L. A. Cox ; 

Mrs. Mary Drozdowitz, Mrs. Mary E. Delaney, Hugh J. Davey, 
Mrs. A. N. Daugherty, Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Dean, Belle Noble 
Dean, Rosamond H. Drake, Frank Drake, Mrs. O. C. Dunn ; 

C. E. Erdmann & Son, Will V. Erdmann, Mrs. Will Erdmann, 
Mrs. Lewis Essig, Mrs. B. E. Ernest, Mrs. Scott R. Edwards, Dr. 
and Mrs. J. H. Eberwein ; 

John P. Frenzel, Jr., Frenzel Bros., Mrs. J. A. Finlay, J. O. 
Finlay, Mrs. William Fickenger, Mrs. Otto L. Friend, Edith W. 
Fehr, Louise M. Fehr, Mrs. H. R. Fitton, Feltman Shoe Company, 
Mrs. Fletcher; 

Mrs. A. B. Graham, Margaret L. Gerin, J. B. Giles, Mrs. John L. 
Griffith, Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Green, John W. Graham, Mrs. Agnes 
Graham, S. B. Goodale ; 

Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Hitz, Mrs. Benjamin D. Hitz, Mr. and Mrs. 
John H. Holliday, Gustav J. Hess, Mrs. Kate Hunsden, Mrs. Ruth 
Hoffman, Mrs. Ella HoUoran, Mrs. E. D. Hill, Mrs. Chas. B. How- 
land, Mrs. Clara Hildebrand, Mrs. Paul T. Hurt, Paul T. Hurt, Jr., 
Dr. W. L Hurt, Sterling R. Holt, Mrs. Chas. D. Humes ; 

Mrs. William Iverson ; 

Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Johnson, Mrs. Mayme P. Judkins, Dr. Wm. 



2IO A History of Base Hospital 32 

L. Jennings, Mrs. C. Rex Jackson, Mrs. Edward Johnson, Mrs. A. 

A. Judd, Mrs. Nellie Jaffe ; 

Mrs. Bernays Kennedy, Mrs. Katherine B. Kurtz, Mrs. Mary B. 
Kelly, John J. Kelly, Margaret Kahle, Kahn Tailoring Company, 
Mrs. Walter W. Kuhn, S. O. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. A. Kurr ; 

Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Lilly, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Lilly, John Langan, 
Robert Locke, Albert Lieber, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Lochry ; 

Mrs. Eugene B. Mumford, Master Thomas Mumford, Jas. G. 
Morris, Ruth R. Maxwell, E. L. McDonald, Mrs. Eugene C. Miller, 
Mrs. A. V. Mangus, W. T. Magee, Mrs. Cynthia R. Maxwell, Mrs. 
Carrie R. Mc Adams, Alice Moore, H. P. Matthews, Margaret Mc- 
CuUoch, Mrs. L. P. Marshall, Mrs. F. W. Merry, Gertrude F. Mc- 
Hugh, Mrs. Margaret E. McHugh, Mrs. Thomas Mumford, Stella 
W. Morrison, Warren T. McCray, Chas. B. Maugham, Mrs. Albert 
Miller, Frances Morrison, Dr. and Mrs. P. E. McCown ; 

Mrs. John C. New ; 

Lena Ott, Mabel Omer, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. O'Reilly ; 

Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Porter, Mrs. Henry C. Petcher ; 

Mrs. L. A. Quimby ; 

Mrs. J. W. Ricketts, Mr. and Mrs. Jno. F. Russell, E. Regan, 
Mrs. Nellie B. Ritter, Dr. E. T. Riley, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Reeves, 
Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Reitenour, Mrs. Helen R. Russell, Grant 
Routh, Frank C. Rich, F. M. Read, Jessie E. Ribeyre, Mrs. Nellie 

B. Ritter, Dr. David Ross, Wm. M. Reeves, Lillian Reeves; 

Guy L. Sparks, Mrs. J. W. Smith, Mrs. Ed. Snyder, Mrs. J. H. 
Smith, Robert E. Sweeney, H. B. Sheller, J. E. Stephens, Mrs. 
Frank Smith, Mrs. Blanche A. Stough, George B. Shoemaker, 
Chas. Scholer, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Sanagan, A. F. Scales, E. H. 
Smith, Elizabeth Scholer, Mrs. J. W. Scherer, Joseph Sertell, G. 
A. Stephens, Mary L. Sullivan, Katharine Steinman, Mrs. Mary D. 
Sheerin ; 

Mae Taylor, Harry C. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Thomas, 
John E. Travis; 

Mrs. F. C. Walker, Florence Walsh, Freda J. Wagner, Ava 
Whiteman, Jacob A. White, W. H. Wagner, Mrs. Laura WoodfiU, 
Dr. H. H. Weer, Faye Wright, Mrs. Roj L. Williams, Mrs. F. N. 
Wise; 

Louis J. Yorger, B. H. Yarling. 



APPENDIX 

A COMPLETE list of the original members of Base 
Hospital 32 and Unit R who served with the hos- 
pital in France, together with their rank, duty, detached 
service, leaves of absence and other changes of status while 
on duty with the organization.* 



Abbreviations : ARC — American Red Cross ; Asst — assistant ; APO — Army 
Post Office ; BH — Base Hospital ; BS — Base Section ; Carp — Carpenter ; Cent 
— Center ; Civ Emp — Civilian Employe ; Co — Company ; CSO — Chief Sur- 
geon's Office; Dept — Department; Div — Division; DS — Detached Service; 
EH — Evacuation Hospital; Elect — Electrician; Eng — Engineer; FA — Field 
Artillery; ICl — First Class; fr — from; Gen — General; Hosp— Hospital ; 
Hdqrs — Headquarters; Inf — Infantry; Lab — Laboratory; MP — Military Po- 
lice; Med — Medical; MSD — Medical Supply Depot; MTC — Motor Transport 
Corps; NCO — Non-Commissioned Officer; Plumb— Plumber ; QM — Quarter- 
master; Rep — Replacement; Sec — Section; Sig — Signal; SOS — Service ef 
Supplies; Sup — Supply; Surg — Surgical; Trans — Transferred. 

Albright, Esther M. — Nurse, Night Supervisor Hosp A. Trans 

BH#90, 1-17-19. 
Alkire, Hazel— Nurse Hosp A. DS BH#90, 1-17-19 to 2-5-19. 

Leave Nice, 11-2-18 to 11-11-18. 

Anderson, Olga N.— Nurse Hosp A. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 
1-24-18. Leave Nice, 11-25-18 to 12-8-18. Trans 3rd Army, 
1-13-19. 

Anderson, Roy P.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hosp A. Leave 
St. Malo, 10-29-18 to 11-14-18, 

Andrews, Wells B.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly and Cook Hosp 

A-D. DS EH#2, 6-24-18 to 6-30-18. Leave Grenoble, 12-2-18 

to 12-14-18. 
Anstead, Robert C. — Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. Laboratory Asst Hosp E. 

Leave Haute Savoie Area, 9-10-18 to 9-24-18; Nice, 1-10-19 to 

2-9-19. 
Ashe, John W.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Cook Hosp E. Leave St. 

Malo, 10-29-18 to 11-14-18. 

Ashworth, Lewis N.— Sgt, 1-20-18; Sgt, ICl, 5-20-18. Pharma- 
cist Med Div Hosp E. DS MSD#3 Cosne, 10-17-18 to 1-1-19; 
MSD BS#5 Brest, 1-1-19 to 1-17-19. 



♦Promotions and other changes of status occurring after the transfer of 
any individual from Base Hospital 32 are not given. 

211 



212 Appendix 

Asperger, Otto— Corp, 1917; Sgt ICl, 1-1-18; Hosp Sgt, 10-10-18. 
Registrar Office, Hdqrs. DS Hdqrs SOS Tours, 1-13-19 to 
1-20-19. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18. Trans 
Hosp Cent Vittel, 2-2-19. Dropped fr Roll BH#32, 2-2-19. 

Atwood, Irwin W.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp A. Leave 
Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-27-18. 

Bachinger, Elizabeth— Head Nurse Hosp D. DS Paris, 11-12-18 
to 11-17-18. Leave Nice, 1-6-19 to 1-16-19. 

Baker, Earl L.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18; Sgt,, 10-24-18. Registrar Office, 
Hdqrs. DS BH#15, 12-30-17 to 2-15-18; Hdqrs SOS Tours, 
1-13-19 to 1-20-19. Leave Nice, 11-24-18 to 12-7-18. 

Baldwin, Madge— Nurse Hosp C. DS 42nd Div, 5-4-18 to 6-27-18. 
Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 12-23-18. 

Baldwin, Wilbur— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly APO. Leave 
Haute Savoie Area, 7-19-18 to 7-31-18; Salies du Sal, 1-27-19 
to 2-3-19. 

Barnett, Sylvester W.— Pvt ICl, 5-20-18; Surg Asst, 8-1-18. Sur- 
gery Hosp A. Leave Grenoble, 12-2-18 to 12-15-18. 

Bartle, Albert J.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp B. Leave 
Grenoble, 11-25-18 to 12-7-18. 

Barwise, John G.— Sgt, 1-12-18; Sgt ICl, 9-20-18. NCO in Charge 
Gen Detail. Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 12-23-18. 

Bauer, Philomena — Nurse Hosp E. Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 
12-23-18. 

Beck, Lillie V.— Nurse Hosp A. DS Surg Team #19, 4-10-18 to 
7-31-18. Leave Nice, 11-14-18 to 11-29-18. 

Beck, Richard— Cook, 9-2-17; Sgt, 2-18-18. NCO in Charge Kit- 
chen Hosp A. DS St Sebastian, 2-20-19 to 2-24-19. Leave 
Haute Savoie Area, 9-10-18 to 9-24-18. 

Beeler, Raymond C. — Lieut 1st, 6-1-17; Capt, 3-5-19. Roentgen- 
ology, Hosp A. DS N. Y. School of Roentgenology, Cornell 
Univ, 8-1-17 to 9-1-17; BH#15, 2-19-18 to 4-19-18. Leave 
Nice, 11-11-18 to 11-25-18. 

Beers, Amy— Asst Chief Nurse. DS Paris, 7-13-18 to 7-18-18; 
EH#3 Toul, 8-27-18 to 11-2-18. Leave Nice, 12-28-18 to 1-9-19. 

Bell, Grace S.— Nurse Hosp A-D. Leave Nice, 12-7-18 to 12- 
20-18. Trans 3rd Army, 1-13-19. 

Bennett, Hazel F.— Nurse Hosp A. DS Surg Team #20, 4-20-18 
to 11-23-18. Leave Nice, 12-13-18 to 12-26-18. 

Berger, Lowe F.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hosp A. Leave St. 
Malo, 10-12-18 to 10-26-18. 

Berger, Martha R.— Nurse Hosp A-E. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 
2-4-18. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 9-9-18 to 9-27-18. Trans 
USA, 1-8-19. 



Appendix 213 

Berry, May— Nurse. Died Naval BH#1, Brest, 12-30-17. 
BiGGERT, Helen — Head Nurse Hosp E. Leave Nice, 12-8-18 to 

12-19-18. 
BiLTiMiER, Charles H.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hosp A-D. 

Leave Nice, 1-12-19 to 1-25-19. 
Birch, Nellie M.— Nurse Hosp B-D. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 

2-4-18. Leave Paris, 2-7-19 to 2-11-19. 
Bishop, Paul— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18; Corp, 11-18-18. Operating Room 

Hosp A, Leave Grenoble, 12-2-18 to 12-15-18; Chaumont, 

1-29-19 to 2-2-19. 
Blank, Dora L.— Nurse Hosp A-D. DS 42nd Div, 5-4-18 to 

5-27-18. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-20-18 to 7-31-18; Nice, 

1-10-19 to 1-22-19. 
Blumenthal, Morris— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Gen Detail. DS BH#15, 

12-30-17 to 2-15-18. Leave Paris, 9-5-18 to 9-10-18; Grenoble, 

12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 
Borders, Dixie — Nurse Hosp A. Leave Biarritz, 8-29-18 to 9- 

10-18. Trans BH#90, 1-17-19. 
BosTWiCK, Mary E. — Civ Emp. Registrar Office, Hdqrs. DS CSO 

Hdqrs SOS, Tours, 7-11-18 to 7-28-18. 

BowEN, Mary M. — Nurse Hosp C. DS ARC Hosp Paris, 5-2-18 to 
5-18-18; Baccarat, 6-26-18 to 12-4-18; Trans ARC Hosp #3, 
12-4-18. 

Bowman, Thomas — Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Gen Detail. Leave Grenoble, 
12-26-18 to 1-8-19. 

Boyer, Harry M.— Pvt. Orderly Hosp D. DS St. Nazaire, 2-17-19 
to 2-24-19. Leave St. Mala, 10-12-18 to 10-26-18; Paris; 
1-29-19 to 2-2-19. 

BoYLES, Bertha E.— Nurse Hosp A-C. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 
2-4-18. Leave Nice, 12-9-18 to 12-21-18. 

Bradley, Bernard — Pvt ICl, 2-1-18. Gararge Vittel. Leave Gren- 
oble, 12-13-18 to 12-27-18. 

Brewer, Ralph J.— Sgt, 9-15-17; Sgt ICl, 10-24-18. NCO in 
Charge Hosp E. Leave Nice, 11-8-18 to 11-21-18. 

Brosnan, William J.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Gen Detail and MP. 
Leave Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-27-18; Nice, 1-28-19 to 2-9-19. 

Brown, Harry M.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. Barber & Orderly Hosp E. 
Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18. 

Bubelis, John— Corp, 8-1-18. Orderly Hosp B. DS BH#15, 
1-5-18 to 3-18-18. Leave Nice, 11-24-18 to 12-7-18. 

Burleson, Viola M.— Nurse Hosp A-C. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 
2-4-18. Leave Nice, 9-26-18 to 10-8-18. Trans 3rd Army, 
1-13-19. 



214 Appendix 

Byrnes, Harry F.— Capt, 1917; Major, 2-11-19. Chief Opthalmo- 

logical Dept Hosp A. DS Lyons, 4-13-18 to 4-23-18. Leave 

Nice, 7-4-18 to 7-25-18; Nice, 12-12-18 to 12-14-18. Trans 

Hosp Cent Savenay, 1-2-19. 
Callis, Harold B.— Corp, 1917; Sgt, 9-15-17; Sgt ICl, 1-1-18; 

Lieut 1st, 7-1-18. Mess Officer. Leave Nice, 11-18-18 to 12- 

2-18; Paris, 2-2-19 to 2-10-19. Detached, 4-11-19. 
Campbell, Clarence L.— Corp, 8-1-18; Sgt, 11-18-18. In Charge 

Office Hosp E. DS BH#15, 12-30-17 to 2-15-18. Leave St. 

Malo, 10-29-18 to 11-14-18. 
Cantrall, Archibald M.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp A. 

DS EH#2, 6-24-18 to 6-30-18. Leave Grenoble, 12-26-18 to 

1-8-19. 
Caris, Merle C— Surg Asst, 10-24-18. Hosp A. Leave Haute 

Savoie Area, 9-10-18 to 9-24-18. 
Carroll, John P.— Corp, 1918 ; Sgt, 1918. Asst Nose and Throat 

Dept Hosp A. DS MSD #3, Cosne, 10-17-18 to 1-20-19. Leave 

Haute Savoie Area, 8-22-18 to 9-4-18. 
Carter, Charles— Gen Detail & Commissary, Vittel. DS BH#15, 

12-30-17 to 2-15-18 ; Vittel, 7-12-18 to 2-21-19. Leave Grenoble, 

12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 
Cathcart, Charlotte — Civ Emp. Secy Chief Surg Sec Hosp A. 

DS Savenay, 10-24-18 to 10-26-18. Leave Paris, 7-13-18 to 

7-18-18. 
Chapman, Colby L.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. MP & Orderly Hosp A. 

DS BH#15, 12-30-17 to 2-15-18. Leave Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 

12-27-18. 

Clark, Edmund D. — Major, 6-20-17, Lt-Col, 6-6-18. Command- 
ing Officer. DS: Surg Team #19, 4-9-18 to 4-20-18. Leave 
Nice, 12-18-18 to 12-28-18. Trans Casual Officers' Camp, 
Angers, 1-14-19. 

Clarke, James F. — Major, 1917; Lt-Col, 3-5-19. Commanding 
Officer Unit R. DS ARC Hosp #5 Paris, 5-30-18 to 12-8-18. 

Clements, Julia — Nurse Hosp E. Leave Nice, 11-28-18 to 12-1 1-18. 

Clickner, Mayme C. — Nurse. Asst Head Nurse Hosp A-B. Leave 
Nice, 11-28-18 to 12-11-18. 

Connaway, Jay — Orderly Hosp A. Trans 1st Rep Depot, 1-12-19. 

Connelly, Elizabeth A. — Nurse Hosp A. Leave Haute Savoie 
Area, 7-20-18 to 7-31-18; Nice, 1-10-19 to 1-22-19. 

Cooke, Raymond A.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. Elect QM Detail. Leave 
Grenoble, 12-2-18 to 12-15-18. 

CoppocK, Orion O.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. Leave Grenoble, 12-2-18 to 
12-15-18. 




FRENCH SOLDIERS PREPARING MESS 




PART OF A FRENCH DIVISION PASSINi; THROLCH CONTREXEVILLE 



Appendix 215 

CoRRiGAN, Vernon B.— Gen Detail. DS BH#15, 12-30-17 to 2-15-18. 

Leave Haute Savoie Area, 8-22-18 to 9-4-18. Trans Inf 1st 

Depot Div, 10-13-18. 
CoTHARiN, Benjamin A. — MP & Orderly Hosp A. Leave St. Malo, 

11-16-18 to 11-29-18. 
Crow, Ira N.— Lieut 1st, 8-11-17; Capt, 3-5-19. Medical Staff 

Hosp D. DS 42nd Div, 4-27-18 to 7-7-18. Leave Paris, 11-18-18 

to 11-21-18; Paris, 12-26-18 to 12-29-18. 
Daugherty, Albert L.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp D & 

Hdqrs. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18; Nice, 

1-24-19 to 2-10-19. 
Davey, John P.— Corp, 8-1-18. Hdqrs Office. DS BH#15, 12- 

30-17 to 2-15-18. Leave Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-26-18. 
Davies, Nelle— Nurse Hosp C. DS BH#90, 1-17-19 to 2-5-19. 

Leave Nice, 11-18-18 to 11-28-18. 

Davis, Nelle B.— Nurse Hosp E. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 2-4-18. 
Leave Nice, 11-25-18 to 12-8-18. 

Davis, William P.— Dental Dept Hosp A. DS BH#15, 12-30-17 

to 2-15-18. Trans ARC Hosp #1, 6-1-18. 
Day, John T.— Lieut 1st, 8-28-17; Capt, 5-5-19. Medical Staff 

Hosp A. DS Cent Med Lab, 6-24-18 to 7-8-18. Trans BH# 101, 

7-10-18. 
Dean, David— Orderly Hosp A-C. Leave Paris, 9-5-18 to 9-10-18. 

Trans Cent Med Lab, 10-21-18. 
Delaney, Joseph C— Pvt ICl, 4-1-18. Orderly Hosp D. DS 

BH#15, 12-30-17 to 2-15-18. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-19-18 

to 7-31-18. 
Diemer, Vinton E. — Cook, 10-1-18. Kitchen Hosp E. Leave Gren- 
oble, 11-25-18 to 12-7-18. 
Dillon, Ruth E.— Nurse Hosp A. DS Surg Team #19, 4-10-18 

to 7-31-18. Leave Nice, 11-14-18 to 11-29-18; Paris, 2-7-19 to 

2-10-19. 
DowNARD, Claude E.— Pvt ICl, 5-20-18; Sgt, 3-6-19. Med Sup 

Vittel. Leave St. Malo, 10-12-18 to 10-26-18; Paris, 1-29-19 

to 2-2-19. 
Drake, Moris W.— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18; Sgt, 9-20-18. Elect in Charge 

Power Plant QM Detail. Leave Nice, 12-28-18 to 1-10-19 

Le Boule, 3-19-19 to 3-23-19. 
Drosdowitz, Morris— Pet ICl, 10-24-18. Garage Vittel. DS 

EH#2, 6-24-18 to 6-30-18. Leave Paris, 9-5-18 to 9-10-18 

Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-27-18; Nice, 1-28-19 to 2-9-19. 
Duck, C. Curtis— Corp, 9-15-17; Sgt, 4-17-18; Lieut 1st, 9-5-18 

Registrar Hdqrs. DS Hdqrs SOS Tours, 1-13-19 to 1-18-19 

Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-19-18 to 7-31-18; Paris, 12-11-18 

to 12-16-18. 



2i6 Appendix 

Duffy, Joseph A.— Corp, 5-20-18; Sgt, 11-18-18. NCO in Charge 

Bath House. Leave St Malo, 11-16-18 to 11-30-18. 
Duncan, John H.— Corp, 1917; Sgt, 1918. Deatchment Office. 

Leave St. Malo, 11-16-18 to 11-30-18. 
Ealy, Emma F. — Nurse Hosp A-C. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 

8-17-18 to 8-26-18. 
Earnest, Herman L.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp A. DS 

BH#15, 12-30-17 to 2-15-18. Leave Grenoble, 12-2-18 to 

12-16-18. 
Edwards, Cornelius M.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp A. 

Leave St. Malo, 11-16-18 to 11-30-18. 
Edwards, Scott R.— Lieut 1st, 8-19-17; Capt, 12-19-18. Cent Lab. 

DS Epernay, 4-14-18 to 4-24-18; EH#1, 4-26-18 to 5-15-18; 

Cent Lab Dijon, 5-17-18 to 5-20-18. Trans ARC Hosp #104, 

5-20-18. 
Elder, Mary L. — Nurse. Hosp A. Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 

12-23-18. 
Erdmann, Ernest T.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp A. DS 

BH#15, 12-30-17 to 2-15-18. Leave Dinard, 11-8-18 to 11-25-18. 
Ervin, Jessie M.— Nurse Hosp A-D. Trans BH#8, 8-4-18. 
EssiG, Maude F.— Nurse Hosp A. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 2-4-18. 

Leave Haute Savoie Area, 8-17-18 to 8-26-18. 
Eudaly, Rufus A. — Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp A. Leave 

Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 
Fehr, Winters W.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hosp E. Leave 

Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-27-18. 
Feirrell, Clem R.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hosp A. DS 

BH#15, 12-30-17 to 2-15-18. Leave Grenoble, 12-2-18 to 

12-16-18. 
Ferguson, Mary — Nurse Night Supervisor. DS Surg Team #19, 

4-10-18 to 10-11-18. Trans Mobile Hosp #11, 10-11-18. 
Ferrel, Paul O.— Pvt ICl, 5-20-18. Orderly Hosp A. Leave Haute 

Savoie Area, 10-1-18 to 10-16-18. 
Finley, Georgia — Civ Emp. Dietitian. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 

7-8-18 to 7-19-18. 
FisHBACK, George — Corp, 11-11-17; Sgt, 1-16-18; Lieut 2nd, 12- 

7-18. Quartermaster, Hdqrs. Leave Nice, 8-26-18 to 9-10-18; 

Paris, 12-11-18 to 12-18-18. 
Fisher, Harry W. — Gen Detail. Leave Grenoble, 11-25-18 to 

12-5-18. 
FiSK, Kenneth — Orderly Hosp D. Trans 12th Service Co Sig Corps, 

10-7-18. 
Fitchett, Earl H.— PvtlCl, 9-20-18. Carp & Orderly Hosp B. 

DS BH#15, 12-30-17 to 2-15-18. Leave Grenoble, 11-25-18 to 

12-7-18. 



Appendix 217 

Fletcher, Harrv H.— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18. Med Sup Room & Gen De- 
tail. Leave Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 

Foreman, Walter A. — Orderly Hosp D. Leave Grenoble, 12-9-18 

to 12-23-18. 
Fox, Malcolm— Gen Detail. Leave Grenoble, 12-19-18 to 1-1-19. 
Francis, Joseph M. — Chaplain ARC. 
Frost, Geraldine R. — Civ Emp. Secretarial work Hdqrs. Trans 

CSO Hdqrs SOS Tours, 7-11-18. 
Fuller, Frank M. — Capt, 7-19-17. Officer in Charge Hosp E. 

Trans Hdqrs BS #6 Marseilles, 10-31-18. 
Funkhouser, Elmer — Lieut 1st, 9-26-17; Capt, 3-6-19. Patholo- 
gist & Serologist Cent Lab. DS 42nd Div, 4-26-18 to 6-21-18; 

Cent Med Lab, 7-1-18 to 7-20-18. Leave Paris, 12-5-18 to 

12-10-18. 
Gaither, Benjamin H.— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18; Corp, 9-24-18. Carp QM 

Detail. Leave Grenoble, 11-25-18 to 12-8-18. 
Gaumer, Harvey E.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp A. Trans 

Hosp Cent Limoges, 12-15-18. Dropped fr roll BH#32, 12-15-18. 
Geise, Terry— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. MP & Gen Detail. Leave Haute 

Savoie Area, 8-22-18 to 9-4-18. 
Genolin, Susan— Nurse Hosp C. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 2-4-18. 

Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-16-18 to 7-27-18; Nice, 1-10-19 to 

1-22-19. 
Giles, Roger— Orderly Hosp D-E. DS EH #2, 6-24-18 to 6-30-18. 

Leave Haute Savoie Area, 11-21-18 to 12-3-18; Paris, 12-20-18 

to 12-25-18. 
Gilmore, Harry C. — Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp A. Leave 

Haute Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18. 
Glotfelty, Warner A. — Pvt ICl, 5-20-18. Registrar Office, Hdqrs. 

Leave Grenoble, 12-2-18 to 12-15-18. 
Goodale, Homer B. — MP & Gen Detail, Leave Haute Savoie Area, 

9-10-18 to 9-24-18. 
Graber, Kathryn O. — Nurse Hosp E. DS Baccarat, 6-24-18 to 

6-30-18; BH#90, 1-17-19 to 2-5-19. Leave Nice, 12-11-18 to 

12-24-18. 
Graham, Alois B. — Capt, 7-15-17; Major, 10-1-18; Chief Surg 

Sect. Trans Angers, 1-10-19. 

Graham, Paul R.— Pvt ICl, 5-20-18; Surg Asst, 9-25-18. Orderly 
Hosp A. Leave Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-26-18. 

Gray, Edna June — Nurse. Supervisor of Surgeries Hosp A. DS 
ARC Bureau of Surg Dressings Paris, 1-10-18 to 2-18-18. Leave 
Haute Savoie Area, 7-16-18 to 7-27-18; Nice, 1-10-19 to 1-22-19. 

Gray, Henry A.— Capt, 7-10-17; Major, 3-5-19. Surgical Staff 
Hosp A. 



2i8 Appendix 

Green, Hugh H.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. Gen Detail. Leave Haute 

Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18. 
Greenhalgh, Sarah— Nurse. Anaesthetist Hosp A. DS BH#90, 

1-17-19 to 2-5-19. Leave Nice, 11-13-18 to 11-28-18. 
Gregory, Earl M.— Garage, Vittel. DS MTC, 10-31-18 to 2-18-19. 

Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-19-18 to 7-31-18. 
Griffith, John L.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. Garage Vittel. 
Grim, Mary Gladys— Nurse Hosp A-D. Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 

12-23-18. Trans 3rd Army, 1-13-19. 
Hagaman, Edd G.— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18; Surg Asst, 2-18-18. Dental 

Dept Hosp A. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18. 

Trans Attend. Surgeon, Nice, 1-2-19. 
Hamilton, Hallie L. — Cook Hosp D. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 

7-19-18 to 7-31-18. 
Hart, Samuel O. — Orderly Hosp D, Leave Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 

12-27-18. 
Harvey, Alice B.— Trans BH#8, 3-29-18. 
Haumerson, CHfford C— Gen Detail. DS ARC Hosp #5, 5-28-18 

to 12-8-18. 
Heffner, Robert T.— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18; Corp, 8-1-18; Sgt, 10-24-18; 

Sgt ICl, 11-18-18. Pharmacist Hosp E. Leave Nice, 8-26-18 

to 9-10-18. 
Hemminger, Creigh C. — Gen Detail. Leave St. Malo, 11-16-18 to 

11-30-18. 
Henke, Margaret C. — Nurse. Ansethetist Hosp A. Leave Haute 

Savoie Area, 7-20-18 to 7-31-18; Nice, 1-10-19 to 1-22-19. 
Herbert, Lewis C. — Cook, 10-1-18. Kitchen Nurses' Quarters. 

Leave Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 
Herod, Mary Beaty — Civ Emp, 10-19-17. Interpreting & Clerical 

Work Hdqrs. Leave Paris & Tours, 8-27-18 to 9-4-18. 
Herrick, John F.— Capt, 6-27-17; Major, 11-14-18. Officer in 

Charge Hosp C. Leave Paris, 11-25-18 to 11-28-18; Paris, 

4-1-19 to 4-2-19. 
Hess, Elmer H. — Gen Detail. Leave Grenoble, 11-21-18 to 12-6-18; 

Lyon, 1-27-19 to 2-2-19. 
Hicks, Wilbur — Kitchen Hosp A. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 

10-1-18 to 10-14-18. 
HiLAND, Emmett— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp D. 
Hildebrand, Howard E. — Gen Detail. DS F. A. School, Saumer, 

8-28-18 to 12-4-18. Leave Grenoble, 12-26-18 to 1-8-19. 
Hitz, Benjamin D.— Corp, 9-15-17; Sgt ICl, 1-1-18; Lieut 1st, 

5-2-18 ; Capt, 3-6-19. Medical Supply Officer. DS Tours, 2-5-19 

to 2-9-19. Leave St. Aignan, 7-5-18 to 7-10-18; Nice, 11-11-18 

to 11-25-18. 




ON BOARD THE FREEDOM 




J.OAFING BETWEEN INSPECTIONS 



Appendix 219 

HoBBS, William L. — Corp, 11-18-18. In charge Office Hosp C. 

Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 12-23-18. 
Hoffman, John W.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. Gen Detail. Leave St. Malo, 

10-12-18 to 10-26-18. 
HoLLENBECK, Harry R.— Sgt, 2-22-18; Sgt ICl, 9-20-18. Asst NCO 

in Charge Hosp A. DS Surg Team #20, 4-21-18 to 7-14-18; 

Surg Team #20, 10-30-18 to 11-24-18. Leave Nice, 12-12-18 

to 12-24-18. 
HoLLiNGSWORTH, Herman H.— Pvt ICl, 3-1-18; Sgt, 10-24-18. Cent 

Lab. DS Surg Team #20, 4-21-18 to 7-14-18. Leave Nice, 

11-24-18 to 12-7-18. 
HoLLORAN, John J. — Plumb QM Detail. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 

10-1-18 to 10-14-18. 
HousER, Mary B.— Nurse Hosp E. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 1-24-18. 

Leave Haute Savoie Area, 8-17-18 to 8-26-18. 

Humes, Charles D. — Capt, 1917; Major, 11-14-18. Consultant 
Neuropsychiatrist. DS BH#8, 2-15-18 to 6-24-18; Vittel-Con- 
trexeville Center, 6-24-18 to 1-2-19. Leave Nice, 12-18-18 to 
12-28-18. Trans Angers, 1-2-19. 

Hunt, Birda R.— Nurse Hosp D. DS 42nd Div, 5-4-18 to 6-27-18. 
Leave Nice, 9-26-18 to 10-8-18. Trans 3rd Army, 1-13-19. 

Hunt, Edmund V.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hdqrs. Leave 
Haute Savoie Area, 9-10-18 to 9-24-18; Paris, 1-28-19 to 2-2-19. 

HuNSDEN, Robert V.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp D. Leave 

St. Malo, 10-12-18 to 10-26-18. 
Hurt, Paul T.— Lieut 1st, 8-19-17; Capt, 3-6-19. Surgical Staff 

Hosp A. DS 42nd Div, 4-27-18 to 7-3-18. Leave Paris, 1-7-19 

to 1-14-19. 
Hutton, Brace E. — Cook, 9-1-18. Kitchen Hosp B. Leave St. 

Malo, 11-3-18 to 11-19-18. 
Ikerd, Ruth H.— Nurse Hosp A. Leave Nice, 9-13-18 to 9-24-18; 

Paris, 2-3-19 to 2-5-19. 
Iverson, William V.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Carp QM Detail. Leave 

Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 

Jackson, Coutsie R. — Corp, 8-1-18. QM Commissary. Leave Nice, 
12-22-18 to 12-24-18; Coblenz, 1-10-19 to 1-16-19. 

James, Lora D. — Capt, 1917. Surgical Staff Hosp A. DS 42nd 
Div, 5-2-18 to 7-3-18; Surg Team #20, 7-17-18 to 11-24-18. 

Jennings, Loomis — Corp, 1917; Sgt ICl, 1-1-18; Hosp Sgt, 4-17-18; 
Master Hosp Sgt, 10-22-18. Sergeant-Major Hdqrs. Leave 
Nice, 12-12-18 to 12-24-18. 

Jericho, Paul B.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp B. DS EH #2, 
6-24-18 to 6-30-18. Leave Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-27-18; 
Paris, 1-28-19 to 2-2-19. 



220 Appendix 

Johnson, Richard K.— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18. Garage Vittel. DS Surg 

Team #20, 7-17-18 to 10-4-18. Leave Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 

12-23-18. 
Johnson, William A. — Cook. Kitchen Hosp E. Leave Haute 

Savoie Area, 9-10-18 to 9-24-18. 
Johnson, William C— Pvt ICl, 5-20-18. MP. DS Is-sur-TiUe, 

9-15-18 to 9-23-18; Vichy, 10-15-18 to 10-19-18. Leave St. 

Malo, 11-8-18 to 11-25-18; Nice, 1-28-19 to 2-9-19. 
Johnston, Clarence S.— Corp, 1917. Registrar's Office Hdqrs. 

Leave St. Malo, 10-29-18 to 11-14-18; Paris, 4-1-19 to 4-5-19. 
Johnston, Kenneth L. — Lieut 1st, 1917. Surgical Staif Hosp A. 

DS Surg Team #20, 4-20-18 to 7-14-18; Surg Team #19, 

7-15-18 to 2-11-19. 
Jones, Dwight K. — Garage Vittel. DS Entertainment Section AEF, 

2-19-19 to 4-19-19. 
Jones, Gerald G.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18; Cook, 10-1-18. Mess Supply 

Room Hosp E. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 8-22-18 to 9-4-18; 

Paris, 1-9-19 to 1-15-19. 
JuDD, Arthur A.— Sgt ICl, 8-1-18. MP & Hdqrs, DS Hdqrs Adv 

Sec SOS, 11-5-18 to 11-7-18; Langres, 11-10-18 to 11-12-18. 

Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-19-18 to 7-31-18; Lyon, 1-22-19 

to 1-27-19. 
JuDKiNS, Basil D.— Pvt ICl, 5-20-18. Garage Vittel. Leave Haute 

Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18; Verdun, 12-27-18 to 12-31-18. 
Kahle, Edward C— Gen Detail. DS EH #2, 6-24-18 to 6-30-18. 

Leave Haute Savoie Area, 8-22-18 to 9-4-18; Haute Savoie 

Area, 10-1-18 to 10-13-18. Trans Inf 1st Depot Div, 10-13-18. 
Kelly, Charles B.— Gen Detail. DS BH#15, 12-30-17 to 2-15-18; 

Surg Team #20, 7-17-18 to 11-24-18. Leave Nice, 12-19-18 to 

1-1-19. 
Kennedy, Bernays — Major, 7-23-17; Chief Medical Section. DS 

Baccarat, 5-1-18 to 5-7-18; Paris, 5-15-18 to 5-22-18; Exermont, 

10-15-18 to 10-19-18. Leave Nice, 7-2-18 to 7-14-18. 
Kennedy, Mary— Nurse Hosp A. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 1-24-18; 

ARC Paris, 5-2-18 to 5-18-18. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-8-18 

to 7-19-18; Nice, 1-10-19 to 1-22-19. 
KiRKPATRiCK, Russell B. — Kitchen Hosp A. Leave Haute Savoie 

Area, 8-22-18 to 9-4-18. 
Kochman, Mary F.— Nurse Hosp A. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 

2-4-18. Leave Nice, 9-13-18 to 9-24-18; Paris, 2-3-19 to 2-5-19. 

Kroeger, John P.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Tailor & Gen Detail. Leave 
Haute Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18. 

KuRR, Edward— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hosp A. Leave Nice, 
11-24-18 to 12-7-18; Rheims, 2-4-19 to 2-9-19. 



Appendix 221 

Lamson, Charles S. — Pvt ICl, 5-20-18. Gen Detail. Leave St. 
Malo, 10-29-18 to 11-14-18; Paris, 1-29-19 to 2-2-19. 

Lanahan, Cornelius J.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. MP & Gen Detail. 
Leave Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-27-18. 

Lanahan, Thomas— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18; Corp, 12-1-18; Sgt, 1-1-19. 
QM Office. DS Chief Surgeon AEF, 11-13-18 to 1-26-19. Leave 
Haute Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18. 

Lancaster, Alma— Nurse Hosp A. DS BH#90, 1-17-19 to 2-18-19. 

Leave Nice, 11-10-18 to 11-23-18. 
Langan, John A.— Sgt, 9-20-18; Mess Sgt, 10-1-18. Mess Sgt. 

Leave Nice, 11-8-18 to 11-21-18. 
Larimer, Milton— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp E. Leave 

Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 
Laramore, John C— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hosp C. DS 

EH#2, 6-24-18 to 6-30-18. Leave St. Malo, 11-16-18 to 11-30-18. 

Lessenger, Ethel — Nurse Hosp A-B. Leave Nice, 12-7-18 to 

12-20-18. 
Lindbom, Ellwood— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp D-B. Leave 

Haute Savoie Area, 7-19-18 to 7-31-18. 

LocHRY, Ralph L.— Lieut 1st, 8-19-17. Surgical Staff. X-Ray 
Dept. DS Surg Team #19, 4-9-18 to 7-17-18. Trans BH# 116, 
7-17-18. 

Locke, Lloyd L. — Mess Sgt, 10-1-18. Kitchen Hosp A. Leave St. 
Malo, 11-3-18 to 11-19-18. 

Loechle, William P. — Cook. Kitchen A-E. Leave Grenoble, 
12-13-18 to 12-27-18. 

Logan, Luke— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hosp A. Leave Gren- 
oble, 12-2-18 to 12-16-18; Le Mans, 4-2-19 to 4-6-19. 

LouNSBURY, Clifford — Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hosp A. Leave 
Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-26-18; Paris, 3-6-19 to 3-10-19. 

LuKENS, John E.— Corp, 1917; Sgt, 8-1-18; Sgt ICl, 4-1-19. NCO 
in Charge Kitchen Hosp B. DS MSD #3, 10-17-18 to 1-14-19; 
Le Boule, 2-19-19 to 2-27-19. Leave Nice, 8-23-18 to 9-7-18. 

LuPTON, Clifford E. — Dental Dept Hosp A. 

LusK, Mabel— Nurse Hosp A-B. DS BH#90, 1-17-19 to 2-5-19. 
Leave Nice, 11-18-18 to 11-28-18. 

Lyons, Marchael C. — Pvt ICl, 5-1-18; Surg Asst, 5-15-18. Surg 

Asst Hosp A. Leave Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 12-23-18 ; Le Mans, 

1-24-19 to 1-31-19. 
McArdle, John— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18; Sgt, 11-18-18. DS ARC Hosp 

#1 Paris, 4-9-18 to 7-31-18; 116 Eng, 11-26-18 to 12-3-18. 

Leave St. Malo, 11-8-18 to 11-25-18. Trans Discharge Camp 

St. Aignan, 3-19-19. 



222 Appendix 

McBee, Mary R.— Nurse Hosp A. DS BH# 15, 12-29-17 to 2-4-18. 

Leave Nice, 12-8-18 to 12-19-18. 
McCarty, Clarence M.— Orderly Hosp A. Leave Grenoble, 

12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 
McClure, William N. — Garage Vittel. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 

9-10-18 to 9-24-18. Trans Discharge Camp St Aignan, 4-11-19. 
McCoppiN, Margaret— Nurse Hosp E. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 

2-4-18; Baccarat, 6-26-18 to 2-13-19. Trans Baccarat, 2-13-19. 
McCuLLOCH, Charleton B.— Capt, 4-10-17; Major, 11-17-17; Lt- 

Col, 10-23-18. Surgical Staff Hosp A. DS Surg Team #19, 

4-9-18 to 9-26-18. Trans Mobile Hosp #11, 9-26-18. 
McDonald, Irwin C. — Orderly Orthopedic Dept Hosp A. Leave 

Haute Savoie Area, 7-19-18 to 7-31-18. 
McDouGALL, Duncan C— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18; Sgt, 2-22-18; Sgt ICl, 

10-24-18. NCO in Charge MSD Vittel. Leave St. Andrews, 

Scotland, 2-1-19 to 2-24-19. 
McElwaine, Jay B.— Sgt, 3-1-18; Sgt ICl, 9-20-18. NCO in Charge 

Plumb, QM Detail. Leave Paris, 1-10-18 to 1-16-18; Haute 

Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18; Paris, 1-4-19 to 1-8-19. Trans 

Camp #91 Le Boule, 3-4-19. 
McGiFFiN, William J.— Sgt, 12-17-17; Sgt ICl, 9-20-18. NCO in 

Charge Hosp C. Leave Nice, 11-8-18 to 11-21-18. 

McGuiRE, Roy A.— Capt, 1917. DS Paris, 5-30-18 to 12-12-18; 
Le Boule, 2-20-19 to . Dropped fr roll BH#32, 2-20-19. 

McHuGH, Thomas D.— Corp, 9-30-17; Sgt, 3-17-18; Sgt ICl, 8-1-18. 

NCO in Charge Hosp D. DS BH#15, 12-30-17 to 2-15-18. 

Leave Nice, 11-8-18 to 11-22-18. 
McIntire, John D. — Barber & Orderly Hosp A. Leave Grenoble, 

12-9-18 to 12-23-18 ; Le Mans, 1-28-19 to 2-3-19. 

McLaughlin, Cyril A.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp E. DS 
MSD #3, 11-26-18 to 12-21-18; MSD BS#2, 1-10-19 to 2-17-19. 

Magee, George E.— Sgt, 2-22-18. NCO in Charge X-Ray Dept 

Hosp A. Trans BH#8, 9-29-18. 
Mahan, Bertha B. — Head Nurse Hosp B. DS ARC Bureau of 

Surg Dressings Paris, 1-10-18 to 2-31-18; BH#90, 1-17-19 to 

2-5-19. Leave Nice, 11-2-18 to 11-11-18. 

Mangan, Mary— Nurse Hosp A. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 1-24-18; 

Surg Team #19, 7-28-18 to 10-11-18. Trans Mobile Hosp #11, 

10-11-18. 
Mangus, Artiq V.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18; Dispensary Asst, 10-24-18. 

Pharmacy Hosp A. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7- 

19-18; Mussy-sur-Seine, 12-21-18 to 12-25-18. 

Marshall, Walker R.— Pvt ICl, 5-20-18. X-Ray Dept Hosp A. 
Leave Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-27-18. 



Appendix 223 

Martin, Florence J.— Chief Nurse BH*32. DS Paris, 5-25-18 to 

5-30-18 ; Paris, 8-19-18 to 8-22-18 ; Savenay, 10-22-18 to 10-26-18. 

Leave Nice, 1-6-19 to 1-16-19. 
Martin, Paul F.— Capt, 1917. Surgical Staff. DS Surg Team 

#20, 4-20-18 to 7-14-18; Surg Team #20 EH#7, 7-17-18 to 

11-27-18. Trans EH #3, 11-30-18. 
Matthews, Paul R.— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18; Corp, 11-18-18. Office 

Hosp D. DS Epernay, 4-14-18 to 5-20-18. Leave Haute Sa- 

voie Area, 7-19-18 to 7-31-18. 
Maugham, John R.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. MP & Gen Detail. DS 

EH #3, 8-26-18 to 11-2-18. 
Maxwell, Leslie H.— Lieut 1st, 1917. Medical Staff Hosp E. DS 

Cent Med Lab, 5-30-18 to 6-7-18. Leave Chambery, 7-17-18 

to 7-30-18. Trans Mobile Hosp #11, 10-13-18. 
Mehler, Frank R.— Lieut 1st, 1917. Surgical Staff Hosp A. DS 

Cent Med Lab, 7-21-18 to 7-26-18; EH#3, 8-27-18 to 10-13-18; 

Mobile Hosp #11, 10-13-18 to 1-31-19. 
Mellis, Bruce A. — Cook, 10-1-18. Kitchen Hosp A. Leave St. 

Malo, 11-3-18 to 11-19-18. 
Melville, Elizabeth — Nurse. Linen Room Hosp A. DS Paris, 

11-12-18 to 11-17-18. 
Miller, Elmer E. — Cook. Kitchen Hosp E. Leave Haute Savoie 

Area, 9-10-18 to 9-24-18. 
Miller, Estelle F.— Nurse. Surgery Hosp A. DS BH#15, 12- 

29-17 to 2-4-18. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-8-18 to 7-19-18. 

Trans BH#8, 10-21-18. 
Miller, Jeanette A.— Nurse Hosp A-D. Trans BH#8, 8-4-18. 
Montgomery, Johanna — Nurse Hosp A. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 

7-20-18 to 7-31-18. Trans 3rd Army, 1-13-19. 
Moore, Robert M.— Lieut 1st, 9-1-17; Capt, 11-11-18. Officer in 

Charge Hosp D. DS St. Nazaire, 2-17-19 to 2-24-19. Leave 

Nice, 4-24-19 to 5-6-19. Trans Embark Center Le Mans, 3-7-19. 
Morgan, Pierre S.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18; Sgt, 10-24-18. NCO in 

Charge Morgue. Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 12-23-18. 
Mowrer, Edna C— Nurse. Surgery Hosp A-B. DS BH#15, 12- 

29-17 to 2-4-18. Leave Nice, 12-9-18 to 12-21-18. 
Mulcahy, Paul W. — Orderly Hosp D. Leave Grenoble, 12-13-18 

to 12-27-18. Trans fr BH#31 to US Hosp Train, 1-8-19. 
Mullen, Mary E.— Nurse Hosp E. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 2-4-18. 

Leave Nice, 12-9-18 to 12-21-18. 
MuMFORD, Eugene B. — Capt, 9-1-17. Orthopedic Surgeon Hosp A. 

DS Belgium, 1-29-18 to 3-15-18; Surg Team #20, 4-20-18 to 

7-14-18. Trans BH#9, 11-6-18. 
Need, Clara LaV.— Nurse Hosp A-C. DS BH#90, 1-17-19 to 

2-18-19. Leave Nice, 11-30-18 to 12-13-18. 



224 Appendix 

Newkirk, Fred N.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Garage Vittel. 

NoRRis, Joseph C. — Cook. Kitchen Hosp B. 

Oatman, Sherman H.— Cook. Kitchen Hosp B. Leave St. Malo, 

11-16-18 to 11-30-18. 
O'CoNNELL, Mayme— Nurse Hosp A. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 

1-24-18; 42nd Div, 5-4-18 to 6-27-18. Leave Nice, 11-28-18 to 

12-11-18. 
O'Hern, Wade J.— Corp, 9-22-17; Sgt, 5-20-18. Asst NCO in 

Charge Hosp A. Leave Nice, 8-26-18 to 9-10-18. 
O'Keefe, Marie— Nurse Hosp A-D. Leave Nice, 11-10-18 to 

11-23-18. 
O'Reilly, Raymond— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18; Sgt, 10-24-18. Hosp A. 

Leave Nice, 11-24-18 to 12-7-18. 
Ostenzi, Florine— Nurse Hosp A. DS BH# 15, 12-29-17 to 2-4-18 ; 

Baccarat, 6-24-18 to 6-30-18; Surg Te|am #20, 7-24-18 to 

11-23-18. Leave Nice, 12-13-18 to 12-26-18. Trans 3rd Army, 

1-13-19. 
Page, Lafayette— Capt, 1917; Major, 10-1-18. DS Paris, 5-17-18 

to 5-27-18. Leave Nice, 7-4-18 to 7-25-18; Lonedre, 11-23-18 

to 11-30-18. Trans Angers, 1-10-19. 
Parrett, Ralph C— Leave Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-27-18. 
Payne, Lena Lee— Nurse Hosp A. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 1- 

24-18; Baccarat, 6-26-18 to 12-31-18. Trans Hosp Cent Save- 
nay, 12-31-18. 
Peacock, Elsie— Nurse. Surgery Hosp A-B. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 

to 1-24-18; Baccarat, 6-24-18 to 6-30-18. Leave Nice. 11-25-18 

to 12-8-18. Trans 3rd Army, 1-13-19. 
Plough, Vern F.— Sgt, 11-18-18. NCO in Charge Kitchen Hosp D. 

Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 12-23-18. 
Plumb, Theodore G.— Pvt ICl, 5-20-18; Sgt, 10-24-18. Office QM 

Dept, Hdqrs. Leave St. Malo, 10-12-18 to 10-26-18. 
Poindexter, Harold B. — Orderly Hosp A. Sent to BH#16, 

10-22-18. Dropped fr roll BH#32, 11-29-18. 
Porter, Whitney C— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. Mail Orderly, Hdqrs. Leave 

Haute Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18; Paris, 1-28-19 to 2-2-19. 
Potter, Evelyn— Nurse Hosp B-C. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 2-4-18. 

Leave Nice, 11-30-18 to 12-13-18. Trans 3rd Army, 1-13-19. 
Power, Earl D.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Bath House. Leave St. Malo, 

10-29-18 to 11-14-18; Paris, 1-29-19 to 2-2-19. 
Prosser, Amy A.— Nurse Hosp D. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 1-24-18; 

42nd Div, 5-4-18 to 6-27-18. Leave Nice, 9-26-18 to 10-8-18. 

Trans fr BH#31 to BH#60. Dropped fr roll BH#32, 1-8-19. 
Prust, Beulah G.— Nurse Hosp D. DS Baccarat, 6-26-18 to 2-13-19. 

Dropped fr roll BH#32, 2-13-19. 



Appendix ^ 225 

PuGH, Joseph M.— Cook, 10-1-18. Kitchen Hosp D. DS BH#15, 

12-30-17 to 2-15-18 ; EH#2, 6-24-18 to 6-30-18. Leave St. Malo, 
- 11-16-18 to 11-29-18. 
QuiMBY, Smith — Lieut 1st, 6-20-17; Capt, 2-17-19. Surgical Staff 

Hosp A. DS 42nd Div, 4-27-18 to 7-3-18. Leave Chambery, 

7-17-18 to 7-30-18. 
QuiNN, Edward T.— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18; Corp, 10-24-18; Sgt, 11-18-18. 

MP & Office Hosp A. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-19-18 to 

7-31-18; Le Boule, 3-18-19 to 3-22-19. 
Reed, Oliver — Kitchen Hosp A. Evac US San Tr #52 to Hosp 

Cent Bordeaux, 11-4-18. Dropped fr roll BH#32, 11-29-18. 
Reel, Leonard R.— Sgt, 1917; Sgt ICl, 1-1-18; Lieut 1st, 7-1-18. 

Detachment Commander. Leave Nice, 11-18-18 to 12-2-18. 

Trans BS#1, 2-20-19. 
Reeves, Edward D.— Corp, 3-13-18; Sgt, 10-24-18; Sgt ICl, 11- 

18-18. NCO in Charge Gen Detail. Leave Nice, 11-8-18 to 

11-22-18. 
Reimers, Robert S.— Lieut 1st, 1917. Opthalmologist. DS BH#8, 

5-23-18 to 6-25-18. Trans EH #7, 7-3-18. 
Reitenour, Clarence D.— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18. Orderly Hosp A. DS 

Surg Team #19, 4-9-18 to 10-12-18. Trans Mobile Hosp #11, 

10-12-18. 
Rich, Roy F.— Corp, 1917; Sgt ICl, 1-1-18. NCO in Charge Hosp 

A. DS MSD #3, 10-17-18 to 12-18-18; St. Nazaire, 2-17-19 to 

2-24-19. Leave Nice, 9-10-18 to 9-24-18; Lyon, 1-22-19 to 

1-26-19. 
Ricketts, Joseph W. — Lieut 1st, 5-1917; Capt, 3-5-19. Surgical 

Staff. Officer in Charge Hosp B. DS 42nd Div, 4-27-18 to 

7-7-18. Leave Nice, 7-8-18 to 7-21-18; Paris, 12-5-18 to 

12-10-18. 
Riddell, Harry L.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp A. DS 

Hdqrs SOS Tours, 2-9-19 to 3-18-19. Leave St. Malo, 11-16-18 

to 12-1-18. 

RiGGS, Glenn A.— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18; Corp, 5-20-18; Sgt, 8-1-18. 

Garage Vittel. 
RiTTER, Paul P.— Pvt ICl, 4-5-18. Orderly Hosp A. DS Vichy, 

9-26-18 to 9-29-18. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 11-21-18 to 

12-3-18. 
RoBERSON, Tulie — Nurse. Surgery Hosp A. DS Baccarat, 6-26-18 

to 8-16-18. Leave Nice, 11-14-18 to 11-29-18. 
Robinson, Dar A. — Sgt ICl, 8-1-18. Pharmacist. Hosp A. Leave 

Nice, 9-10-18 to 9-24-18 ; Paris, 1-28-19 to 2-2-19. 

Rock, Nellie— Nurse. Surgery Hosp A. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 
2-4-18; 42nd Div, 5-4-18 to 6-27-18; Surg Team #19, 7-28-18 
to 10-11-18. Trans Mobile Hosp #11, 10-11-18. 



226 Appendix 

Rogers, Warren K.— Corp, 9-24-18 ; Sgt, 10-24-18. NCO in Charge 

Gen Detail. Leave Nice, 11-8-18 to 11-22-18. 
RoHR, Anna M.— Nurse Hosp E. DS Baccarat, 6-26-18 to 12-27-18. 

Trans 3rd Army, 1-13-19. 
RouTH, Paul N.— Pvt ICl, 5-20-18. Garage Vittel. 
Russell, Frank— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Garage Vittel. 
Ryan, Eleanor C— Head Nurse Hosp C. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 

to 1-24-18; Surg Team #20, 4-20-18 to 8-20-18. Trans Camp 

Hosp #12, 8-20-18. 
Sanagan, Albert C— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18; Corp, 5-20-18; Sgt, 10-10-18. 

NCO in Charge Officers Quarters. Leave Nice, 8-26-18 to 

9-7-18; Paris, 1-7-19 to 1-11-19; Paris, 2-12-19 to 2-15-19. 
Satters, Albert — Cook. Kitchen Hosp A-D. 
Scales, Mary A. — Asst Chief Nurse. Head Nurse Hosp A. DS 

ARC Bureau of Surg Dressings Paris, 1-10-18 to 2-18-18. Leave 

Le Croisic, 8-26-18 to 9-7-18; Nice, 12-28-18 to 1-9-19. 
Scherer, Jack W. — Lieut 1st, 1917. Dental Dept. Hosp A. Leave 

Biarritz, 7-20-18 to 7-27-18. Trans 20th Eng, 7-29-18. 
Schillerstrom, Curtis G. — Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp A. 

Leave St. Malo, 10-12-18 to 10-27-18. 
ScHOLER, Ida A.— Nurse Hosp D. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 2-4-18; 

Paris, 12-22-18 to 12-24-18. Leave Nice, 11-30-18 to 12-13-18. 

Trans 3rd Army, 1-13-19. 
ScovEL, Calvin L.— Pvt ICI, 9-20-18. Kitchen Hosp B. Leave 

Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 
Searle, Ferrell G.— -Office Hosp A. Trans QMC, 7-16-18. 
Selch, Charles G. — Kitchen Hosp A. Leave St. Malo, 11-3-18 to 

11-19-18. 
Self, Harold C— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hosp A & Gen Detail. 

Leave Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 
Sellmeyer, Arnold J. — Pvt ICl, 2-1-18. Garage Vittel. 
Sertell, Peter J.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. Carp QM Detail. Leave 

Grenoble, 12-2-18 to 12-16-18. 
Shearer, Beryl C— Pvt ICl, 5-20-18; Sgt, 11-18-18. Cent Lab. 

Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 12-23-18. 
Sheller, Vernon G. — Sgt, 9-15-17; Sgt ICl, 1-1-18; 1st Sgt. Leave 

Nice, 10-18-18 to 10-31-18; Le Boule, 3-19-19 to 3-23-19. 
Shimer, Myrtle — Nurse Hosp A. DS Savenay, 3-31-18 to 4-5-18. 

Leave Nice, 12-9-18 to 12-21-18. 
Smith, Glenn — Gen Detail. Leave Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-27-18. 
Smith, Golda P.— Nurse Hosp E. DS BH# 15, 12-29-17 to 2-4-18 ; 

42nd Div, 5-4-18 to 6-27-18. Leave Nice, 11-14-18 to 11-29-18. 
Smith, Montelle E.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Gen Detail. Leave Gren- 
oble, 12-26-18 to 1-8-19. 



Appendix 227 

Snyder, Claude E.— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18. Dental Dept Hosp A. Trans 

20th Eng, 7-29-18. 
Spainhour, Paul G.— Pvt; ICl, 5-20-18. Orderly Hosp A. DS 

ARC Hosp #5, 5-28-18 to 12-8-18. 
Sparks, James V. — Lieut 1st, 1917. Dentist Hosp A. Leave Biar- 
ritz, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18. Trans Attend Surg Nice, 1-2-19. 
Steffen, Gertrude — Civ Emp. Secy Chief Med Sect Hosp D. 

Leave Paris, 8-19-18 to 8-25-18; Nice, 12-12-18 to 12-23-18. 
Stephan, Wilbur M. — Kitchen Hosp D. Leave Grenoble, 11-25-18 

to 12-7-18. 
Stephens, William A. — Garage. Leave St. Malo, 10-29-18 to 

11-14-18. 
Stough, Charles S.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. X-Ray Dept Hosp A. 

Leave Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 
Stuart, Louis S. — Pvt ICl, 2-1-18. Cent Lab. Leave Haute Sa- 

voie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18. 
Stuvel, Bernard— Pvt ICl, 2-1-18. Plumb QM Detail. Leave 

Haute Savoie Area, 9-15-18 to 9-28-18. 
Summers, Leslie E. — Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. X-Ray Dept Hosp A. Leave 

Grenoble, 12-13-18 to 12-27-18. 
Sutton, Martin L.— Pvt ICl, 5-20-18; Corp, 8-1-18. QM Ware- 
house. Leave Nice, 10-18-18 to 10-31-18. 
Swaim, George O.— Corp, 9-15-17; Sgt ICl, 1-1-18. NCO in 

Charge Garage & Hosp B. Leave Paris, 1-28-19 to 2-2-19. 
Sweet, Ralph L. — Lieut 1st, 9-1-17. Surgical Staff Hosp A. Leave 

Nice, 7-8-18 to 7-21-18. Trans Mobile Hosp #11, 10-13-18. 
Swift, Agnes L.— -Nurse. Surgery Hosp A. DS BH#90, 1-17-19 

to 2-5-19. Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 12-23-18. 
Thompson, Elsie— Nurse Hosp B. Leave Nice, 12-11-18 to 12-24-18. 
Thompson, Helen A. — Nurse Hosp A-B. Leave Nice, 12-10-18 

to 12-23-18. 
Threlkeld, Addie — Nurse Hosp A-C. DS Baccarat, 6-24-18 to 

6-30-18. Leave Nice, 11-25-18 to 12-8-18. 
Totten, Ruth G.— Nurse Hosp B. DS BH# 15, 12-29-17 to 2-4-18 ; 

BH#90, 1-17-19 to 2-18-19. Leave Nice, 11-10-18 to 11-23-18. 
Van Dyke, Eva B. — Nurse Hosp A-D. 
Van Evera, Grace— Nurse; Hosp A-C. DS BH#90, 1-17-19 to 

2-5-19. Leave Nice, 12-13-18 to 12-26-18. 
Wagner, Hermina E. — Nurse Hosp A. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 

9-9-18 to 9-27-18. Trans 3rd Army, 1-13-19. 
Wagner, William H. — Kitchen Hosp A. Leave Haute Savoie Area, 

7-19-18 to 7-31-18. 
Walgren, Roy L.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Gen Detail. Leave Gren- 
oble, 12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 



228 Appendix 

Walker, Ben S.— Capt, 1917. DS ARC Hosp #5, Paris, 5-30-18 to 

12-12-18. 
Walker, Frank C— Lieut 1st, 9-6-17; Capt, 3-5-19. Surgical 

Staff Hosp A. DS Surg Team #20, 4-20-18 to 7-14-18; Surg 

Team #20, 7-17-18 to 11-24-18. 
Watts, Stanley S.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Orderly Hosp E. Leave St. 

Malo, 10-12-18 to 10-26-18; Paris, 3-10-19 to 3-12-19. 
Weer, Paul W.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. Registrar Office Hdqrs. Leave 

Haute Savoie Area, 10-1-18 to 10-16-18. 
Wehman, Edward J.— Lieut 1st, 1917; Capt, 3-5-19. Medical 

Staff & Cent Lab. DS Mobile Hosp #39, 7-1-18 to 7-31-18; 

Paris, 3-10-19 to 3-12-19. 
Weitendorf, Alys— Nurse Hosp C-E. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 

2-4-18; Baccarat, 6-24-18 to 6-30-18. Leave Biarritz, 8-29-18 to 

9-10-18. Trans BH#90, 1-17-19. 
Wells, Russell D.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. QM Office Hdqrs Vittel. 

Leave Haute Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18; Dijon, 12-14-18 

to 12-18-18; Paris, 1-31-19 to 2-6-19. 
Wesley, Alton J.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp A. Leave 

St. Malo, 10-29-18 to 11-14-18. 
Westfall, Don — Sgt, 2-22-18. Lab Hosp E, Leave Haute Sa- 
voie Area, 10-1-18 to 10-14-18. 
Whitaker, Bessie — Nurse Hosp A-C. Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 

12-23-18. 
White, Dudley— Cook, 9-15-17; Sgt, 2-1-18. NCO in Charge Kit- 
chen Hosp A. 
White, George L.— Corp, 1917 ; Sgt, 8-1-18. MP & QM Detail. 

Leave Nice, 12-10-18 to 12-23-18. 
Whitlock, Olive— Nurse Hosp A-E. DS Surg Team #20, 7-24-18 

to 9-25-18; BH#90, 1-17-19 to 2-5-19. Leave Nice, 12-13-18 

to 12-26-18. 
Williams, Clifford J.— Gen Detail. DS EH #2, 6-24-18 to 6-30-18. 
Winter, Daniel L. — Cook, 10-1-18. Kitchen Hosp B. Leave Gren- 
oble, 11-25-18 to 12-7-18. 
Wise, Earl M.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Engineer & Fireman Elec Light 

Plant. Leave St. Malo, 11-16-18 to 11-29-18. 

Woellhaf, Guy A.— Pvt ICl, 10-24-18. Orderly Hosp E. Leave 

Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 12-23-18. 
Wright, Merle M.— Nurse Hosp A-E. DS BH#90, 1-17-19 to 

2-5-19. Leave Nice, 11-13-18 to 11-28-18. 
Wright, Ruth— Nurse Hosp D. DS BH#15, 12-29-17 to 1-24-18; 

Baccarat, 6-26-18 to 2-13-19. Dropped fr roll BH#32, 2-13-19. 



Appendix 229 

Wright, Worth E.— Pvt ICl, 8-1-18. Gen Detail. Leave Haute 
Savoie Area, 7-7-18 to 7-19-18; Nice, 1-24-19 to 2-7-19. 

Yarling, Earl W.— Pvt ICl, 9-20-18. Gen Detail. Leave Dinard, 
10-29-18 to 11-14-18. 

Young, Lowell R.— Orderly Hosp A. DS EH #2, 6-24-18 to 
6-30-18; Surg Team #19, 7-29-18 to 10-12-18. Trans Mobile 
Hosp #11, 10-12-18. 

YouNT, Ray R. — Orderly Hosp D, Leave Grenoble, 12-9-18 to 
12-23-18. 



INDEX 



Albright, E, 67, 181. 
Alkire, Mrs. A., 209. 
Alkire, H.. 20, 141, 181. 
Allen, G. R, 209. 
Allen, J. E., 209. 
Altringer, A. N., 95. 
Anderson, O., 22, 52, 181. 
Anderson, R. P., 68, 99. 
Andrews, W. B., 68, 88, 99, 100. 
Anesthesia, 140. 
Anstead, R. C, 68, 93. 
Armistice, 177, 178. 
Ashe, J. W., 14, 71, 80, 99. 
Ashworth, L. N., 14, 71, 93, 98. 
Ashworth, Mrs. N., 209. 
Asperger, G. F., 209. 
Asperger, O., 12, 14, 71, 99, 182. 
Atwood, I. W., 68, 99. 
Auxiliary Assn., 206-210. 
Avant, W. H., 209. 

Bachinger, E., 20, 109. 

Baker, E. L.. 14, 87, 93, 99. 

Baker, Mrs. W. H., 209. 

Baldwin, M., 67, 88. 

Baldwin, W., 14, 86, 99. 

Baldwin, Mrs. W.. 207, 209. 

Ball, Mrs. H. P., 209. 

Banner, C. W., 88, 131, 180. 

Barnes, A., 14. 

Barnett, S. W., 68, 93. 

Barr, A., 88, 131, 180. 

Bartle, A. J., 14, 52, 99. 

Barwise, J. G., 68, 71, 99. 

Baseball, 80, 87, 92. 

Base Hospital 2Z, 47, 90, 149, 180. 

Base Hospital 31, 46, 100, 144, 145, 

149, 159, 160, 161, 169, 170, 171, 

180, 195. 
Base Hospital 36, 47, 149, 180. 
Basketball, 180. 
Bath House. 75, 159, 163. 
Bauer, P., 67. 
Bay of Biscay, Lines to, 25. Storm, 

34. 
Bean, I., 209. 
Bechtel, J. H., 209. 
Beck, L. v.. 20, 72,, 147. 
Beck, R., 14,71. 
Bed capacity, 47, 48, 95. 
Beeler, R. C, 5, 7, 13, 54, 70. 74, 137, 

139, 140, 148, 155, 194. 196. 
Beeler, Mrs. R. C., 207, 209. 
Beers, A., 60, 67. 
Beery, H. R., 8, 10, 13, 19, 53. 55, 162. 



Beery, Mrs. H. R.. 207, 209. 

Bell, G. S.. 67, 181. 

Bendley, Mrs. B.. 209. 

Bennett, H. P., 20, 74, 88. 

Berg, A., 209. 

Berger, L. P.. 68. 99. 

Berger, M. R., 20. 52. 181. 

Berry, Mrs. L. W., 209. 

Berry, M., 20, 52. 

Biggert, H.. 20. 109. 

Biltimier, C. H.. 14, 99. 

Birch, N. M., 20, 52. 

Bishop, P. J.. 68, 87, 99, 100. 

Bishop's Farm, 54. 

Bittler, G. A., 209. 

Blakeman, R. J.. 209. 

Blank, D., 67, 88. 

Blumenthal. H. L., 209. 

Blumenthal. M., 14, 99. 

Bonesteel, K., 14. 

Bonner, W., 209. 

Borders, D.. 20. 131, 181. 

Borders. O.. 209. 

Bostwick. M. E., 23, 88. 

Bouter, E., 52. 

Bowen, M. M., 20, 88. 

Bowman. T.. 14, 99. 

Boyer, H. M., 14. 

Boyles, B. E.. 20. 52. 

Bradley, B., 14. 71. 80. 86, 100. 

Bradley. Mrs. C. S., 209. 

Brest, 36. 39, 40. 

Brewer. R. J., 12, 14. 71. 99. 

Brienne-le-Chateau, 190. 

Brooks, M., 209. 

Brosnan, H. T., 209. 

Brosnan, J. G., 209. 

Brosnan. W. J., 14, 99. 

Brown, H. W., 14. 80, 87. 92, 93, 100. 

Brown, Rev. L., 207. 209. 

Brownlee, I. D., 160, 169. 

Bryant, D., 195. 

Bubelis, J., 14, 93. 

Buehler, A. G., 182, 196. 

Buehler, H. H., 182, 194, 196. 

Burdette, H.. 209. 

Burleson. V. M., 20, 181. 

Bushey, F. P., 13, 52, 53. 56. 70. 

Butler, E.. 14. 

Byrnes, H. F.. 8, 13. 54. 181. 

Byrnes, Mrs. M. D., 209. 

Galley, A.. 209. 

Callis, H. B., 12. 14. 56, 71, 74, 94, 188. 
196, 198. 



231 



232 



Index 



Callis, Mrs. T. O., 207, 209. 

Campbell, C. L., 14, 87, 93, 99. 

Cantrall, A. M., 68, 88, 99. 

Caris, M. C, 68. 

Carmania, H. M. S., 63. 

Carroll, J. P., 14, 71, 98, 100. 

Carroll, Mrs. M., 209. 

Carter C 14 

Casino' Theater, 79, 80, 100, 159, 166. 

Cassidy, M., 209. 

Cathcart, Mrs. A. M., 209. 

Cathcart, C, 23, 103. 

Chapman. C. L., 14, 99. 

Civilian Employees, 23. 

Clark, E. D., 3, 4, 5, 10, 12, 13, 53, 54, 

55, 73, 74, 89, 101, 103, 162, 177, 182. 
Clark, Mrs. E. D., 207. 
Clarke, J. F.. 58, 59, 60, 61, 67, 182, 

194, 196. 
Clements, J., 20. 
Clickner, M. C, 20, 103. 
Cline, E. L., 209. 
Combs, Mrs. M. B., 209. 
Commissary, 73. 
Connaway, C, 206, 207, 209. 
Connaway, Mrs. C, 207. 
Connaway, J., 14, 100, 131, 133, 182. 
Connelly, E., 67. 
Contrexeville, 149, 158, 177, 188. 

Arrival at 42. 

Described, 44. 
Cooke, J. L., 209. 
Cooke, Mrs. J. L., 209. 
Cooke, R. A., 14, 51, 87, 93. 
Cooper, C. M., 209. 
Coppock, O. O., 68, 93. 
Corrigan, M. E., 209. 
Corrigan, Mrs. N., 209. 
Corrigan, V. R., 14, 80, 98. 
Cosmopolitain, 46, 48, 50, 53, 95, 103, 

104, 144, 147, 158. 
Cotharin, B. A., 14, 52. 
Cotharin, Mrs. B., 209. 
Crowe, I. N., 67, 74, 194. 
Cox, L. A., 209. 

Dages, J., 15. 

Daugherty, A. L., 15, 52, 99. 

Daugherty, Mrs. A. N., 209. 

Davey, H. J., 209. 

Davey, J. P., 15, 93. 

Davies, N., 67, 181. 

Davis, N. B., 20, 52. 

Davis, W. P., 15, 87. 

Day, J. T., 5, 13, 88. 

Dean, B. N., 209. 

Dean, D., 15, 98. 

Dean, E. H., 209. 

Dean, Mrs. E. H., 207, 209. 



Delaney, J. C, 15. 

Delaney, Mrs. M. E., 209. 

Departments, 131-158. 

Diemer, V. E., 68, 87. 

Dillon, R. E., 20, 73. 

Downard, C. E., 68, 93. 

Downs, G., 20. 

Drake, F., 209. 

Drake, M. W., 15, 51, 71, 99. 

Drake, R. H., 209. 

Drosdowitz, M., 15, 88, 99. 

Drozdowitz, Mrs. M., 209. 

Duck, C. C, 3, 12, 15, 71, 74, 98, 183, 

188, 190, 196. 
Duffy, J. A.. 62, 68, 87, 93, 99, 100, 101. 
Duncan, J. H., 15, 71, 86. 
Dunn, Mrs. O. C, 209. 

Ealey, E. F., 20. 

Earnest, Mrs. B. E., 209. 

Earnest, H. L., 15, 86, 92, 99, 100. 

Eastman, Mrs. T., 7. 

Eberwein, Dr. and Mrs. J. H., 209. 

Edwards, C. M., 68. 99. 

Edwards, S. R., 5, 7, 13, 70, 72, 144. 

Edwards, Mrs. S. R., 209. 

Elder, M. L., 67. 

Elder, Mrs. W. L., 7. 

Equipment, 50, 56, 137, 179; items of, 

3, 4, 7. 
Erdmann, C. E., and Son, 209. 
Erdmann, E., 15, 99. 
Erdmann, W. V., 209. 
Erdmann, Mrs. W., 209. 
Ervin, J. M., 20, 91. 
Essig, Mrs. L., 209. 
Essig, M. F., 20, 52. 
Eudaly, R. A., IS, 99. 

Fehr, E. W., 209. 

Fehr, L. M.. 209. 

Fehr, W. W., 15, 99, 198. 

Feirrell, C. R., 15, 87. 

Ferguson, M., 20, 73, 97. 

Ferrell, P. O., 68. 93, 99. 

Fickenger, Mrs. W.. 209. 

Fink, C, 72, 87. 

Finlay, G., 23. 

Finlay, Mrs. J. A., 209. 

Finlay, J. O., 209. 

Fishback, G., 15, 71, 80, 182, 196, 198. 

Fisher, H. W., 15, 145. 

Fisk, K., 15, 98. 

Fitchett, E. H., 15, 99. 

Fitton, Mrs. H. R., 209. 

Fletcher, H. H.. 15, 71. 

Fletcher, Mrs., 209. 

Foreman, W. A., 15, 

Fortune, William, 1, 2, 6. 



Index 



233 



Foster, M. P.. 161, 172. 

Foster, Mrs. R. S., 7. 

Fox, M., 15. 

Francis, J. M., 13, 14, 32, 41, 72, 87, 

182. 
Freedom, U. S. S., 198, 199, 200, 201. 
French, L. C, 160. 
Frenzel Bros., 209. 
Frenzel, J. P., Jr., 209. 
Friend. Mrs. O. L., 209. 
Frost, G., 23, 88. 

Fuller, F. M., 67, 70, 87, 108. 183. 
Funkhouser, E., 5, 13, 51, 72, IZ, 74, 

144, 145, 194, 196. 

Gaither, B. H., 15, 51, 71, 99, 100. 

Gaumer, H. E., 68, 99. 

Geise, T., 15, 93. 

GenoHn, S., 20, 52. 

George Washington, U. S. S., 24, 26, 

29, 30, 33-40, 200; described, 28. 
Gerin, M. L., 207, 209. 
Giles, J. B., 207, 209. 
Giles, R., 15, 87, 88. 
Gilmore, H. C., 15, 99. 
Glotfelty, W. A., 68, 93. 
Goodale, H. B., 15. 
Goodale, S. B., 209. 
Goodwin, Jessie M., 7. 
Graber, O. K., 67, 88, 181. 
Graham, A. B., 5, 13, 54, 74, 89, 99, 

103, 181. 
Graham, Mrs. A., 207, 209. 
Graham, Mrs. A. B., 209. 
Graham, J. W., 209. 
Graham, P. R., 15. 
Gray, E. J., 20, 103. 
Gray, H. A.. 67, 194, 196, 198, 202. 
Green, D., 15. 
Green, H. H., 15, 93. 
Green, Mr. and Mrs. O. E., 209. 
Greenhalgh, S., 67, 141, 181. 
Gregory, E. M., 15, 98. 
Griffith, J. L., 15, 93. 
Griffith, Mrs. J. L., 209. 
Grim. M. G.. 20, 181. 
Guedel, A., 74, 90, 141, 143, 148, 180. 

Hagaman, E. G., 15, 71, 182. 

Hamilton, H. L., 12, 15. 71, 86, 100. 

Hart, S. O., 15, 87, 100. 

Harvey, A., 22. 

Haumerson, C. C., 68. 

Heffner, R. F., 15, 71. 92,, 99. 

Heminger, C. €., 68, 99. 

Henke, M., 68, 141. 

Herbert, L. C., 15. 

Herod, M. B., 23. 

Herod, W. P., 206, 207. 



Herod, Mrs. W. P., 7. 

Herrick, J. F., 67, 70, 99, 108, 196. 

Hess, E. H., 15. 

Hess, G. J., 209. 

Hicks, W., 12, 16, 71. 

Hiland, E., 16, 99. 

Hildebrand, Mrs. C., 209. 

Hildebrand, H. E., 16. 

Hill, Mrs. E. D., 209. 

Hitchcock, L. E.. 56, 80. 159. 160. 

Hitz, B. D., 3, 12, 16, 71, 74, 90, 98, 

194, 196, 198, 202. 
Hitz, Mrs. B. D., 207, 209. 
Hitz, B. F., 206, 207, 209. 
Hitz, Mrs. B. F., 207, 209. 
Hobbs, W. L., 68. 99. 
Hoffman, J. W., 16, 93. 
Hoffman, Mrs. R., 209. 
Hollenbeck, H. R., 16, 71, 74, 88, 98, 

99. 
Holliday, Mr. and Mrs. J. H., 209. 
Holliday, W. J., 16. 
Hollingsworth, H. H., 16, 71, 74, 88, 

99, 145. 
Holloran, Mrs. E., 209. 
Holloran, J. J., 16, 51. 
Holt, S. R., 209. 
Hospital A, 46, 48, 50, 53, 95, 103, 104, 

144, 147, 158. 
Hospital B, 46, 48, 50, 53, 95, 103, 104, 
Hospital C, 46, 48, 50, 53, 95, 108, 109. 
Hospital Center, 89, 149, 152, 177, 182, 

Staff, 90. 
Hospital D, 46, 48, 50, 53, 95, 108, 109, 

144, 149. 
Hospital E, 46, 48, SO, 53, 95, 108, 109, 

144, 187. 
Houser, M. B., 20, 52. 
Howland, Mrs. C. B., 209. 
Humes, C. D., 5, 12, 13, 53, 70, 90, 99, 

149. 180. 
Humes, Mrs. C. D., 207, 209. 
Hunsden, Mrs. K., 209, 
Hunsdon, R. V., 16, 99. 
Hunt, B. R., 20, 88, 181. 
Hunt, E. v., 68, 99. 
Hurley, E. M.. 161. 
Huron, U. S. S., 29, 32, 35, 36. 
Hurt, P. T., 5, 13, 74, 194, 196. 
Hurt, Mrs. P. T.. 207, 209. 
Hurt, P. T., Jr., 209. 
Hurt, W. I., 209. 
Hutton, B. E., 68. 

Indianapolis City Hospital, 3 ; Alumni 

Ass'n., 22. 
Ikerd, R. H., 20. 
Iverson, Mrs. W., 209. 
Iverson, W. V., 16, 51, 99. 



234 



Index 



Jackson, C. R., 16, 93, 195. 
Jackson, Mrs. C. R., 210. 
James, L. D., 67, 88, 196. 
Jaffe, Mrs. N., 210. 
Jennings, L., 12, 16, 71, 99. 
Jennings, W. L., 210. 
Jericho, P. B., 68, 88, 99. 
Jillson, Mrs. D., 7. 
Jobes, N. E., 3. 
Johnson, B. M., 161. 
Johnson, Elizabeth, 22. 
Johnson, R. K., 16, 71. 88, 206. 
Johnson, R. O., 206, 207, 209. 
Johnson, Mrs. R. O., 209. 
Johnson, W. A., 68, 71. 
Johnson, W. C, 16, 93. 
Johnston, C S., 68, 71. 
Johnston, E. E., 95, 194, 196. 
Johnston, K. L., 67, 74, 88, 89, 196. 
Jones, D. K., 16, 87, 100, 101. 
Jones, G. G., 16, 93. 
Judd, A. A., 16, 71, 93. 
Judd, Mrs. A. A., 210. 
Judkins, B. D., 16, 71. 
Judkins, Mrs. M. P., 209. 

Kahle, E. C, 16, 88, 98. 

Kahle, M., 210. 

Kean, Jefferson R., 5, 58. 

Kelly, C. D., 16. 

Kelly, J. D., 95, 180. 

Kelly, J. J., 210. 

Kelly. Mrs. M. B., 210. 

Kemp, W., 16. 

Kennedy, B., 5, 13, 54, 108, 149, 180. 

Kennedy, Mrs. B., 207, 210. 

Kennedy, M., 22, 52. 

Kirkpatrick, R. B., 12, 16. 

Kirkpatrick, S. O., 210. 

Kochman, M. F., 20, 52. 

Kroeger, J. P., 16, 99. 

Kuhn, Mrs. W. W., 210. 

Kurr, Mrs. A., 210. 

Kurr, E., 16, 99. 

Kurtz, Mrs, K. B., 210. 

Laboratory, 72, 144-146. 
Lacy, J. M., 182. 
Lamson, C. S., 69, 93. 
Lanahan, C. J., 16, 99. 
Lanahan, T., 16, 99. 
Lancaster, A., 20, 181. 
Langan, J., 210. 
Langan, J. H., 16, 99. 
Larimore, M. F., 69, 99. 
Larmore, J. C, 69, 88, 99. 
Lathrop, L., 3. 
Lawless, W., 160. 
Layton, S. L., 160, 169. 
Leaves, 9L 



Lessenger, E., 68. 

Lieber, A., 210. 

Lilly, Col. Eli, 1, 2. 

Lilly & Co., Eli, 2; gift of, 1. 

Lilly, Mr. and Mrs. E, 210. 

Lilly, J. K., 1, 2, 4, 206, 207, 210. 

Lilly, Mrs. J. K., 210. 

Lindbom, E., 69, 99. 

Lochry, Mr. and Mrs. H. E., 210. 

Lochry, R. L., 5, 13, 11, 89, 137, 139, 

155. 
Locke, L. L., 16. 
Locke, R., 210. 
Loechle, W. P., 12, 16, 71. 
Logan, L., 16, 99, 100. 
Logsdon, L., 16. 
Lounsbury, C, 16, 92, 99, 100. 
Lowe, L. E., 20. 

Lukens, J. E., 68, 71, 87, 93, 98, 187. 
Lupton, C. E., 16. 
Lusk, M., 67, 181. 
Lyons, M. C, 16, 87, 93, 100. 

McAdams. Mrs. C. R., 210. 

McArdle, J., 17, 71, 99, 198. 

McBee, M. R., 21, 52. 

McCarty, C. M., 69. 

McClure, W. N., 17, 198. 

McCoppin, M., 22, 52, 88. 

McCormick, M., 17. 

McCown, P. E., 210. 

McCown, Mrs. P. E., 206, 207, 210. 

McCray, W. T., 210. 

McCulloch, C. B., 5, 6, 13, 53, 54. IZ, 

97, 103. 
McCulloch, M., 207, 210. 
McCullough, H. F., 62. 
McDonald, E. L., 210. 
McDonald, I. C, 17, 147. 
McDougall, D. C, 17, 71, 99. 
McElwaine, J. B.. 17, 51, 71, 99, 198. 
McGiffin, W. J., 68, 71, 99. 
McFeely, P., 56. 
McGibney, Mrs. H., 7. 
McGuire, R. A., 67, 70, 187. 
McHugh, G. F., 207, 210. 
McHugh, Mrs. M. E., 210. 
McHugh, T. D., 12, 17, 71, 93. 
Mclntire, J. D., 17. 
McLaughlin, C. A., 17, 99, 182. 

Mac Mahon, K., 161. 

Magee, G. E., 16, 52, 71, 97, 137, 138, 

139. 
Magee, W. T., 210. 
Mahan, B. B., 21, 103, 181. 
Mangan, M., 22, 52, 89, 97. 
Mangus, A. V., 16, 93. 
Mangus, Mrs. A. V., 210. 
Marshall, Mrs. L. P., 210. 



Index 



235 



Marshall, W. R., 17, 93, 137, 139, 194. 

Martin, P. R, 13, 74, 88. 

Martin, F. J., 5, 20, 22, 162. 

Matthews, H. P., 210. 

Matthews, P. R., 16, 32, 71, 86, 87, 99, 

100, 101, 145. 
Maugham, C. B., 206, 207, 210. 
Maugham, J. R, 17, 99. 
Maxwell, Mrs. C. R., 210. 
Maxwell, L. H., 5, 14, 54, 70, 97, 108. 
Maxwell, R. R., 207, 210. 
Mayer, Mrs. C, 22. 
Medical Section, 50, 108. 
Mehler, F. R., 67, 97, 196. 
Mellis, B. A., 69. 
Melville, E., 21. 
Merry, Mrs. F. W., 210. 
Meyer, A. H., 95, 148, 194, 196. 
Meyer, C, Jr., 17. 
Miller, Mrs. A., 210. 
Miller, Mrs. E. C, 210. 
Miller, E. E., 17, 71. 
Miller, E. F., 21, 52, 98. 
Miller, J. A., 21, 91. 
Minstrel show, 86, 100. 
Mobilization, 10. 
Mohr, E. C, 95. 
Montana, U. S. S., 29, 32. 
Montgomery, J., 22, 181. 
Moore, A., 210. 
Moore, R. M., 5, 14, 54, 70, 99, 108, 

149, 192, 198. 
Moran, M., 17. 
Morel, M., 87, 177. 
Morgan, F. C, 60. 
Morgan, P. S., 17, 93, 99, 145, 146. 
Morris, J. G., 210. 
Morrison, F., 3, 210. 
Morrison, S. W., 210. 
Mowrer, E. C, 21, 52. 
Mulcahy, P. W.. 17, 182. 
Mullen, M. E., 21, 52. 
Mumford, E. B., 5, 13, 54, n, 88, 147, 

148, 157, 180. 
Mumford, Mrs. E. B., 206, 207, 210. 
Mumford, T., 210. 
Mumford, Mrs. T., 210. 
Munchoff, T., 17. 
Murray, F. H., 95, 148, 180. 

Nantes, 192. 
Need, C. L., 21, 181. 
New, Mrs. J. C, 210. 
Newkirk, F. N., 69, 99. 
Nicholson, Mrs. M., 7. 
Norris, J. C, 69, 71. 
Neu, C. F., 3. 
Neuro-Pschiatry, 144. 
Newcomb, R., 5, 8. 



Nicholson, P. C, 160, 169. 

Nose, Throat, Ear, 131. 

Nurses, 1Z, 94, 97, 98, 181, 187, 193. 

Club, 99, 167. 

Garden, 167. 

List of, 20. 

Training, 22, 

Unit R, 67. 

Oatman, S. H., 69. 
O'Connell, M., 21, 52, 88. 
Officers, 54. 

Club, 168. 

List of, 13. 

Transfer, 196. 

Unit R, 67. 
O'Hern, W. J., 17, 71, 93. 
O'Keefe, M., 21. 
Oliver, J. H., 3. 
Omer, M., 210. 
Orchestra, 101. 
O'Reilly, E. J., 210. 
O'Reilly, Mrs. E. J., 206, 207, 210. 
O'Reilly, R., 17, 93, 99. 
Orthopedics, 146. 
Ostenzi, F., 22, 52, 88, 181. 
Ott, L., 210. 

Page, L., 5, 13, 54, 99, 131, 181. 

Palmer, K., 17. 

Paris, Hotel de, 46, 48, 50, 53, 95, 103, 

104. 
Parrot, R. C, 69, 99. 
Patients, 

Arrival of, 71, 72, 85, 89, 90, 96, 
133. 

Contagious, 130. 

French, 12, 94, 183-186. 

How Handled, 75. 

Statistics of, 104-129, 148, 162, 183- 
186. 
Payne, L. L., 21, 52, 88. 
Peacock, E., 21, 52, 88, 181. 
Personnel, enlisted, 

List of, 14. 

Quarters, 46. 

Recruiting of, 6. 

Unit R, 68. 
Petcher, Mrs. H. C, 210. 
Pfaff, D., 12, 17. 
Pfaff. O. G., 3, 5, 13, 207. 
Pfranklin, P., 8, 10, 11, 17, 71, 74, 98. 
Plough, V. F., 12, 17, 71, 99. 
Plumb, T. G., 17, 52, 93, 99. 
Poindexter, H. B., 17, 98. 
Porter, H. A., 210. 
Porter, Mrs. H. A., 207, 210. 
Porter, W. C, 17, 52, 93. 
Potter, E., 21, 52, 181. 



236 



Index 



Potts, A. F., 4. 
Power, E. D., 69, 99. 
Prosser, A. A., 21, 52, 88, 181. 
Providence, Hotel de la, 46, 48, 50, 53, 

95, 108, 109, 144, 187. 
Providence Annex, 46, 48, 50, 53, 95, 

108, 109. 
Prust, B. G., 21, 88. 
Pugh, J. M., 17, 88. 

Quimby, Mrs. L. A., 210. 

Quimby, S., 5, 7, 14, 74, 194, 196, 197. 

Quinn, E. T., 17, 71, 80, 99. 

Royal, Hotel, 46, 48, SO, 53, 95, 108, 

109, 144, 149. 
Randall, R., 193. 
Read, F. M., 210. 

Red Cross, 6, 56, 59, 74, 79, 99, 159- 

176, 179, 202. 

Hut, 100, 161, 164, 179. 

Indianapolis Chapter of, 1, 2, 6, 22. 

Shop, 6. 
Reed, O., 17, 98. 
Reel, L. R., 12, 17, 71, 74, 188. 
Reeves, E. D., 17, 71, 87, 99, 100. 
Reeves, Mr. and Mrs. E. L., 210. 
Reeves, L., 210. 
Reeves, W. M., 210. 
Regan, E., 210. 
Reimers, R. S., 67, 183. 
Reitenour, C. D., 17, 71, 73, 97. 
Reitenour, Mr. and Mrs. G. W., 210. 
Reynolds, S. S., 89, 180. 
Ribeyre, J. E., 210. 
Rich, F. C, 210. 

Rich, R. F., 12, 17, 71, 80, 92, 98. 
Ricketts, J. W., 5, 14, 54, 70, 74, 103, 

194, 196. 
Ricketts, Mrs. J. W., 210. 
Ricksher, F., 60. 
Riddell, H. L., 17, 87, 99, 100. 
Riggs, G. A., 17, 71, 87, 93. 
Riley, E. T., 210. 
Ritter, Mrs. N. B., 210. 
Ritter, P. F., 17. 
Roberson, T. I., 21, 88. 
Robinson, D, A., 17, 71, 93. 
Rock, N., 21, 52, 88, 89, 97. 
Rogers, W. K., 69, 99. 
Rohr, A. M., 22, 88, 181. 
Ross, D., 3, 210. 
Routh, G., 210. 
Routh, P. N., 17, 93. 
Rukke, J. v., 90, 101, 102, 177. 
Russell, F., 18, 99. 
Russell, Mrs. H. R., 210. 
Russell, J. F., 207, 210. 
Russell, Mrs. J. F., 210. 
Ryan, E. C, 21, 52, 74, 88, 109. 



Sanagan, A. C, 18. 71. 

Sanagan, A. E., 210. 

Sanagan, Mrs. A. E., 207, 210 

Sandford, G., 18, 85. 

Satters, A., 12, 18, 71. 

Sawyer, M., 160. 

Scales, A. F., 210. 

Scales, M. A., 22. 

Scharffin, P., 18. 

Scherer, J. W., 5, 14, 54. 89. 

Scherer, Mrs. J. W., 210. 

Schillerstrom, C. G., 69, 99. 

Schlanser, A. E., 46. 

Scholer, C, 210. 

Scholer, E., 210. 

Scholer, I. A., 21, 52, 181. 

Shimer, M., 21. 

Schutte, G., 70, 182. 

Scovel, C. L., 69, 99. 

Searle, F. G., 18, 87. 

Searle, P., 12, 18. 

Selch, C. G., 18, 52. 

Self, H. C, 69, 99, 100. 

Sellmeyer, A. J., 18, 71. 

Sertell, J., 210. 

Sertell, P. J., 18, 87, 93, 100. 

Shearer, B. C, 69, 93, 99, 145. 

Sheerin, Mrs. M. D., 210. 

Sheller, H. B., 210. 

Sheller, V. G., 11, 12, 18, 71, 80, 87, 

100. 
Shoemaker, G. B., 210. 
Smith, E. H., 210. 
Smith, Mrs. F., 210. 
Smith, G. F., 21, 52, 88, 193. 
Smith, G., 18, 92. 
Smith, Mrs. J. H., 210. 
Smith, Mrs. J. W., 210. 
Smith, M. E., 18, 99. 
Smith, R., 18. 
Snyder, C. E., 18, 71. 
Snyder, Mrs. Ed, 210. 
Sorensen, E. E., 161. 
Spainhour, P. G., 69, 93. 
Sparks, G. L., 210. 
Sparks, Mrs. G. L., 207. 
Sparks, J. v., 5, 14, 54, 180. 
St. Nazaire, 193, 194, 197. 
St. Sebastien, 192, 193, 194, 196. 
Steflfen, Mrs., 207. 
Steffen, G., 23, 109, 193. 
Steinman, K., 210. 
Stephan, W. M., 18. 
Stephens, G. A., 210. 
Stephens, J. E.. 210. 
Stephens. W. A., 18. 
Stewart, E., 18. 
Storm, 34. 

Stough, Mrs. B. A., 210. 
Stough, C. S., 18, 52, 87, 99, 137. 



Index 



237 



Stuart, L. S., 18, 71. 87. 145. 

Stuvel, B.. 18, 51, 71. 

Sullivan, M. L., 210. 

Summers, L. E., 18, 87, 93, 137. 138. 

Surgical Section, 50, 103. 

Surgical teams, IZ, 74, 88. 89. 

Sutton, M. L., 18, 9Z. 

Swaim, G. O., 12, 18, 50, 71, 80. 

Sweeney, R. E., 210. 

Sweet, R. L., 5, 14, 97. 

Swezey, G. L., 161. 

Swift, A., 68, 181, 193. 

Talghadar, E., 161. 

Taylor, M., 210. 

Taylor, M. K., 161. 

Teschenor, F. R., 95. 

Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. A. C, 210. 

Thompson, E., 68, 193. 

Thompson, H. A., 21, 193. 

Thompson, H. C., 210. 

Thompson, W. H., 56, 80, 159, 160, 

161. 
Thrasher, R. D., 18. 
Threlkeld, A., 21, 88, 193. 
Totten, R. G., 21, 52, 181. 193. 
Travis, J. E., 210. 
Tyndall, R., 202. 
Tyner, M., 21, 

Unit R, 58-69, 182, 199, 202, 204. 
Arrival of, 58. 
At Ft. McPherson, 61. 
Discharge, 204. 
Equipment, 60. 
Personnel, 67. 
Sailing of, 63. 

Van Dyke, E., 68. 193. 
Van Evera, G., 68. 181, 193. 
Van Kirk, H. H., 70, 89, 162, 208, 
Van Riper, J., 2. 
Varner, H. H., 95. 180. 
Verplanck, V. N., 88, 180. 
Vittel, 47, 55, 90, 130, 177. 

Wagner, C. E., 88. 180. 
Wagner, F. J., 210. 
Wagner, H, E., 21, 181, 



Wagner, W. H., 210. 

Wagner, Wm. H., 12, 18, 71. 

Wakefield, R., 18. 

Walgren, R. L., 69, 99. 

Walker, B. S., 62, 67, 194, 196. 

Walker, F. C., 5, 14, 74, 88, 194, 196. 

Walker, Mrs. F. C., 210. 

Walker, J. R., 62. 

Walsh, F., 210. 

Watkins, T. B., 161, 169. 

Watson, Mrs. P. M., 7. 

Watts, S. S., 69, 99. 

Weer, H. H., 210. 

Weer. P. W., 18, 93. 

Wehman, E. J., 67, 144, 145, 194, 196. 

Weitendorf, A., 21, 52, 88, 181. 

Wells, R. D., 18, 99. 

Wesley, A. J., 69, 99. 

Westfall, D., 18, 71, 72, 145. 

Whitacre, H. J., 196. 

Whitaker, B., 68, 193. 

White, D., 12, 18, 71. 

White, G. L., 18, 71, 80, 92, 93. 

White, J. A., 210. 

Whiteman, A., 210. 

Whitlock, O., 68, 181, 193. 

Williams, C. J., 18, 88. 

Williams, Mrs. R. L., 210. 

Winter, D. L., 69. 

Wise, E. M., 18, 99. 

Wise, Mrs. F. N., 210. 

Woellhaf, G. A., 69. 99. 

Wollmuth, R. O., 8, 10, 13. 

Woodfill, Mrs. L.. 210. 

Worthington, J. K., 5, 8, 13. 

Wright, F., 210. 

Wright, M., 68, 181, 193. 

Wright, R., 21, 88. 

Wright, W. E., 18, 93. 

X-Ray, 147, 148, 155. 

Yarling, B. H., 210. 
Yarling, E. W., 18. 99. 
Y. M. C. A.. 56, 164. 
Yorger, L. J., 210. 
Young, L. R., 18, 88. 89. 97. 
Yount, R. R., 18. 
Youtz, H. T„ 180. 



i;ii;i;i;i: 



'!!l;iiiv!:!!i!;!!|!i!i 



, 


i 




i 


1 



007 692 956 7 



1 ■'':■' 
! :< I); 




Hi i 


i 


WBM 






'§ 



iin 






.ii ili'. lili iil S SlJili 



i::iia;;!i 1 



iill i 



iiiiiiiii! 



llii 111 JSlili : Ija 



'•,}• ':i 


i'J 


j! 






13 


1 


III 




If 

ii 


\ 


■i;i 


il 



i! 



((|fl!! 



'Hitliil!! i!! 



li'^ 


; i 


Itii 



lUli tllliililMI 



i'i i< 



f!!iifi'!'ll|!!i!'!!!iiPinii|i|i[!iii|i 

r. ' ' II lil 



Illi'll I,; 



;H'1!;'1!iii 






